As the M-BSF platform enables the development of tailor-made strains with novel traits, it presents new opportunities for the BSF industry. For instance, through the utilization of the M-BSF platform, BugEra can improve the overall efficiency of BSF, resulting in increased yields, elevated protein content, enhanced nutritional values for animal feed, generate novel molecules for diverse industries, and much more.
CTO
BugEra
VP Business Development and Product
BugEra
BugEra, a pioneering BSF-genetics company based in Israel and the United States, stands at the forefront of BSF genetics and strain development. With its headquarters in the shiny city of Beer-Sheva, Israel, and an additional location in Iowa, USA, the company utilizes state-of-the-art molecular techniques and has developed a distinctive gene-editing technology based on the Crispr/Cas system. This technology, named Molecular – BSF (M-BSF) Platform, has emerged after several years of extensive R&D, and enables the development of novel BSF strains in the most efficient way. In addition to the internal R&D, BugEra is taking a significant part in the Israeli BSF consortium, which is supported by the Israeli Innovation Authority. In collaboration with other Israeli BSF companies and academic institutions, the company is contributing to the establishment of the most advanced and comprehensive scientific database on BSF globally.
BUGERA’S M-BSF PLATFORM
Following three years of extensive R&D, BugEra is pleased to announce the successful completion of its M-BSF platform, which is now fully operational. This innovative technology for strain development offers a cost-effective, precise, and significantly rapid system for creating customized BSF strains. While numerous BSF companies engage in selective breeding to improve BSF performance, the M-BSF platform presents an alternative approach that complements and enhances selective breeding and provides substantial additional advantages.
The primary advantage of the M-BSF platform over selective breeding lies in its exceptional precision and the capability to rapidly modify a specific trait while leaving all other genes untouched. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the M-BSF technology, BugEra initially modified several phenotypic traits that can be easily observed. Following the successful demonstration of the technology’s capabilities, BugEra is now positioned to alter nearly any gene of interest for various BSF markets.
As the M-BSF platform enables the development of tailor-made strains with novel traits, it presents new opportunities for the BSF industry. For instance, through the utilization of the M-BSF platform, BugEra can improve the overall efficiency of BSF, resulting in increased yields, elevated protein content, enhanced nutritional values for animal feed, generate novel molecules for diverse industries, and much more.
BUGERA’S FIRST PRODUCT: BSFx2
Positioned as an innovative company, BugEra’s disruptive technology and novel strategy redefine the BSF industry borders. While the majority of BSF companies focus on protein and considers the oil as a by-product, BugEra’s is expanding the BSF industry into new value chains, following its motto “BSF is more than just protein”. Accordingly, BugEra’s first commercial product is a high-oil strain, named BSFx2, is specifically designed for the biofuel industry. Developed through BugEra’s advanced gene-editing technology, BSFx2 yields a significantly higher volume of oil, and an increased concentration of fatty acids compared to native strains, thereby addressing the economic buriers associated with BSF oil, and producing premium oil for biofuel production.
Fossil fuels rank among the most significant pollutants globally, and there are huge efforts to develop biofuels as alternatives to fossil fuels. Currently, the primary sources of oil for biofuel production include crops, particularly soy and palm, and used cooking oil. While oil derived from crops is of superior quality compared to used cooking oil, it presents considerable environmental drawbacks, such as the use of huge agricultural land, soil contamination, excess use of water and fertilizers, resulting in a significant CO2 footprint. BugEra’s approach to producing BSF oil addresses these critical issues by providing the biofuel industry a sustainable oil source with lower CO2 footprint by up to 80% in comparison to crop oil used, while ensuring high quality.
“BSF oil is perfect for biofuel production, particularly for sustainable aviation fuel. By focusing on the biofuel sector, we are tackling two of the most urgent climate and environmental challenges: energy for heavy transportation and organic waste management” says Yoav Etgar, BugEra’s CEO.
Moreover, as biofuel is not food or feed, BSFx2 can be cultivated on non-feed grade waste, offering a solution for new sources of organic waste streams that are currently untapped in the BSF industry today. Additionally, utilizing non-feed grade waste as a cultivation medium contributes to a reduction in cost of goods sold (COGS).
GENETIC EDITING AND CRISPR/CAS TECHNOLOGY
For the readers who may not be familiar with Crispr/Cas technology, a brief overview is provided. Crispr/Cas is a relatively new technology for gene-editing (GE), enabling the modification of specific traits by altering precise nucleotides within an organism’s genome, without the incorporation of foreign DNA. This contrasts with the more widely recognized method of genetic modification (GM or GMO), which involves the insertion of foreign DNA into the organism’s genome and can result in unpredictable and potentially detrimental outcomes. Indeed, many Western nations classify GE organisms as non-GMO, thereby establishing a regulatory framework that facilitates the application of Crispr/Cas technology for the development of new strains in a highly accurate and efficient manner1. As Crispr/Cas gains traction in agriculture for enhancing plant traits and receiving acceptance in medicine for treatment of various diseases, BugEra is elevating the BSF industry to a similar level, positioning it alongside other leading sectors.
StaaS (STRAIN AS A SERVICE) AND FUTURE PROSPECTIVES
A primary objective of BugEra is to facilitate the growth and advancement of the BSF industry. Utilizing the M-BSF platform, along with its cutting-edge molecular tools and innovative genetic technologies, BugEra is equipped with unparalleled expertise in BSF genetics and strain development. Thus, almost any trait can be altered to provide added value for BSF growers, and for the expansion of BSF industry into novel value chains such as the example of BSFx2 for biofuel.
Following the successful development of BSFx2 and unlocking the BSF oil production economical barriers, we are ready for new challenges and look for new products and novel value chains, such as ingredients for cosmetics, specialized oil for lubricants, bio-stimulants for agriculture, high-value protein for feed and food, and even pharma.
Therefore, BugEra offers new service of development customized BSF strains, named StaaS (Starin as a Service), and invites BSF companies and research institutions to collaborate and leverage the M-BSF platform, whether for research purposes or for development of customized strains to meet specific needs.
References
1. https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracyproject.org/
About Dr. Yehonatan Alcalay
Yehonatan Alcalay leads the technological vision and execution of BugEra, with over 13 years of experience in academic and industrial management roles specializing in insect genetics.About Dr. Noam Chahanovsky
Noam Chahanovsky holds a PhD in plant genetics and has over 15 years of experience in the AgTech innovation ecosystem as entrepreneur and as a C-level executive in various positions
