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Insect Farming Innovator Flybox® Secures £3 Million for FeedFlow Project under Defra’s Small R&D Grant Scheme.
Flybox® is proud to announce the launch of the FeedFlow project, which has been awarded £3 million in funding by Innovate UK as part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme.
This initiative brings together a consortium of industry leaders and academic institutions to address significant health and welfare issues in poultry production, utilising advanced technologies and Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae.
Despite significant advancements in production efficiency through genetic selection, the poultry industry faces persistent issues, including poor leg health, high mortality rates, and variable feed conversion ratios (FCRs). Additionally, poultry production contributes notably to ammonia emissions in the UK. To address these issues and stay competitive against low-cost imports, UK production systems must evolve continuously.
Black Soldier Fly farming and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are emerging as revolutionary solutions for improving poultry welfare and performance while supporting sustainability. BSF larvae are renowned for their ability to promote natural poultry behaviour and provide a nutrient-rich, high-quality protein source enhanced with antimicrobial peptides. AI systems propel precision agriculture by delivering real-time data on flock welfare and early warnings of potential issues.
The FeedFlow project harnesses these technologies with a cutting-edge rapid intervention system. It integrates FLOX360, an in-demand computer vision platform powered by enterprise-grade AI algorithms, with the nutritional advantages of BSF larvae. This innovative approach aims to amplify poultry health and productivity, setting new standards for welfare and efficiency in the industry. Additionally, the project incorporates Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), led by Jess Callaghan from the University of Chester, to assess Global Warming Potential (GWP) and prevent a race to the bottom in emissions.
Professor Julieanna Powell-Turner from the University of Chester highlights the environmental benefits of this approach, stating, “The use of BSFL offers significant potential to reduce global warming potential by efficiently converting organic waste into high-protein feed, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions and promotes sustainable waste management.”
Flybox®’s collaboration with Nottingham Trent University further strengthens the project, utilising fortified BSF larvae to deliver a rapid nutrient boost that addresses health challenges more effectively than traditional feed interventions. Together, these innovations streamline feeding processes, enhance flock health and behaviour, and promote environmentally responsible decision-making, all while reducing impacts across the entire value chain.
“Insects are an essential part of our transition from linear to circular resource use, and projects like this are accelerating insect production to commercial viability by thinking outside the box about how we can harness them to improve poultry production,” said Emily Burton, Professor in Sustainable Food Production at Nottingham Trent University.
Supported by a consortium that includes Flybox®, FLOX, the University of Chester, Nottingham Trent University, Courteenhall Farms, Menchine Farm, and Clarke Group Construction, this project is dedicated to developing a comprehensive, sustainable solution for the poultry industry.
This project is funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK.
