Australia-based Goterra has successfully completed its first large-scale insect protein rendering trial, which produced insect meal containing >70% protein and ~12% fat, exceeding industry requirements. The milestone follows the announcement of the company’s partnership with Skretting Australia in 2024 to integrate insect protein meal into aquaculture feed.
Goterra has announced the successful completion of its first large-scale rendering trial, marking a significant milestone in the commercialisation of insect protein in Australia. Conducted using larvae aggregated from all operational sites and processed with an external regional NSW rendering partner, Goterra explained that the trial produced insect meal containing >70% protein and ~12% fat, exceeding industry requirements, outperforming conventional benchmarks like soymeal and more in line with premium fish meals.
“This trial validates a core part of our thesis,” said Olympia Yarger, CEO of Goterra. “Aggregated food waste inputs don’t compromise protein quality. It’s a key step forward in demonstrating the consistency and scalability of our product.”
This successful trial also marks a deliberate and strategic step in Goterra’s evolution by externalising the rendering process and focusing on core competencies in organics waste processing technology and protein production, according to the announcement. Outsourcing the rendering of BSF meal, oil, and tallow creates better pathways to scale more efficiently and deliver on the current infrastructure gap for food waste processing in Australia.
The trial follows the announcement of a landmark partnership between Goterra and Skretting Australia in 2024 to integrate insect protein meal into aquaculture feed. As global demand for sustainable, traceable feedstocks increases, partnerships like this are critical to accelerating Australia’s circular economy.
As Australia grapples with both drought and flooding, the value of a climate-resilient protein source is more apparent every day. Insect protein doesn’t need arable land and grows independent of external weather conditions; presenting a scalable solution for national food security.
