Maltento opens new insect biotech lab in Cape Town

Source: Muhammad Mahdi Karim via Wikimedia Commons

"With this investment, Maltento has taken a significant stride to disrupt the status quo in the pet food industry, by pioneering a new ingredient that holds the promise of being undeniably better, far more sustainable and scientifically superior for our pets and the planet," shares Ryan Ponquett, lead scientist at Maltento.

This announcement follows the positive validation trial for Maltento’s Palate + product in the US market - proving that a South African company can compete in foreign markets.

Insect bio-science innovation

"Our product development continues to accelerate at unprecedented levels, and we are proud to fly the South African flag so prominently in such a competitive global arena," adds Dominic Malan, Commercial Director at Maltento.

Malan concludes this is a monumental achievement following years of research and dedication: "We started this operation in a small, dark office - before that, Dean was breeding the Black Soldier flies in his bathroom at home. Standing in a world-class laboratory, fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, is a real privilege. It is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of our team at Maltento and any other South African business owners and visionaries today."

From beer waste to pet food: Maltento's innovative approach to recycling

6 Feb 2024

Based in Cape Town, the Maltento team offers a testament to the quality of South Africa’s highly skilled scientists and engineers, leading sustainability practices, and world-renowned innovation in the insect biotechnology space. The company is also committed to creating permanent and purposeful jobs for highly qualified bio-science graduates in Cape Town.

Dominic Malan (Commercial Director at Maltento) and Dean Smorenburg (CEO)

These advancements come shortly after Maltento’s commitment to transform South Africa's recycling landscape by breeding Black Soldier Flies to convert agro-processing waste, including spent grains from the beer industry, into high-performance, nutrient-dense proteins, and oils for pet and aquaculture feed.

Brewery waste into high-protein pet food

"At the moment, we are using spent brewers’ grain as feed that is ingested by fly larvae at our Fly Farm in Cape Town. The agro-processing waste actually enriches the larvae’s natural ability to produce functional proteins, healthy fats, and essential amino acids, making mature larvae an ideal protein substitute for the meat derivatives you find in pet food today.

"Beyond protein, soldier fly larvae also produce frass as a useful by-product through their excrement of the spent brewery grains. Now frass also holds substantial nutritional value and serves as an excellent composted soil amendment product, capable of enhancing soil fertility, building plant immunology, promoting nutrient cycling, and improving soil structure," concludes Ponquett.