Feb 23, 2021

A&L Biological collaborates on fertilizer from cricket frass

A&L Biological Inc., a subsidiary of A&L Canada Laboratories Inc., recently announced it will research and develop products from cricket frass.

The frass is a byproduct of the Aspire Food Group’s future cricket production and processing facility in London, Ontario, according to a news release from the company. Frass contains a wide range of nutrients ‘in readily-available form’ that are necessary for plant development and soil health. In addition to key soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium; most of the frass consists of organic matter – which is a contributor to improved soil fertility and productivity.

“Frass at this scale is a new resource for agriculture production,” said Soledad Saldías, Research Lab Director & Special Projects for A&L Biologicals. “We will be researching the benefits for plant growth, soil health and nutrient uptake on the soil microbiome and microbial processes. Our goal is to develop a unique, frass based commercial product which leverages our expertise in bio-stimulants and bio-control technology to deliver a value-added, differentiated product.”

Saldías will lead this project which has received funding from Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, or NGen.

NGen, the industry-led organization behind Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, recently announced funding for this multi-partner project, led by Aspire Food Group.

“Aspire Food Group is a world leader in building the lowest cost, highest-density, and most ethical automated food-grade protein production system. With support from industry leaders like DarwinAI, TELUS Agriculture, Swift Labs and A&L Canada Laboratories, the new facility is expected to revolutionize food-grade protein production and address food insecurity and the high environmental cost of protein production. This innovative and ground-breaking project is the largest project funded by NGen to date and will develop the world’s first fully automated insect protein manufacturing site, positioning Canada as a leader in this space,” NGen CEO Jayson Myers said in the release.

“The role of insect protein for sustainable food systems and to create a circular economy is moving the dial on sustainable agriculture,” said Nevin McDougall, President and Chief Commercial Officer for A&L Canada Laboratories. “We are honoured to partner with Aspire and with this group to deploy the latest technology in the new facility — we are excited for the future of agriculture and Canadian innovation.”

Visit the A&L Biological website at www.albiologicals.com.