In a bold move set to revolutionize the burgeoning insect agriculture industry, FreezeM, an Israeli startup, has successfully raised $14.2 million in a Series A funding round. This investment, led by an undisclosed group of “industrial investors” and the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund), along with FreezeM’s existing investors and partners, marks a significant vote of confidence in the company’s innovative business model and technology.
**Decoupling Breeding from Rearing and Processing**
FreezeM, founded in 2018 as an offshoot from the Weizmann Institute of Science by Dr. Yuval Gilad, Dr. Yoav Politi, and Dr. Idan Alyagor, aims to disrupt the traditional practices of insect farming. According to Dr. Gilad, the industry’s current approach of vertical integration—where breeding, farming, and processing are all conducted on a single site—may not be the most efficient method for scaling up. This model requires farmers to master a wide array of skills, from entomology to biotechnology, which can be a significant barrier to growth.
Drawing parallels to other agricultural sectors where specialization has led to increased efficiency, FreezeM’s business model, termed breeding-as-a-service, proposes a radical shift. By focusing solely on the breeding aspect and providing high-quality larvae to insect farmers, FreezeM allows these farmers to concentrate on rearing and processing, potentially leading to a more streamlined and productive supply chain.
**Suspended Animation: A Technological Leap**
A key innovation from FreezeM is the development of ‘PauseM’—black soldier fly (BSF) neonates that have been induced into a state of suspended animation. This state of hibernation, achieved by manipulating the larvae’s metabolism, allows the neonates to be shipped at room temperature and stored for extended periods. With a survival rate of over 90% for at least 14 days, and potentially longer as research progresses, this technology promises to significantly reduce the logistical challenges associated with live insect transport.
Moreover, the ‘paused’ neonates have been observed to outperform their non-suspended counterparts in terms of growth and yield once they are ‘activated’ by feeding. This unexpected advantage could lead to increased production capacity for insect farmers who adopt FreezeM’s technology.
**CRISPR Gene Editing: The Next Frontier**
In addition to the suspended animation technique, FreezeM is venturing into the realm of genetic modification with its CRISPR gene editing program. The ‘BSF Titan’ line of gene-edited neonates boasts an impressive 25% increase in feed conversion rates. This advancement, set to be commercialized later this year, could dramatically enhance the efficiency of insect protein production.
The company’s collaboration with the Khalaila lab at Ben-Gurion University has also produced a groundbreaking technique for large-scale gene editing, which could facilitate the introduction of heritable traits across generations of black soldier flies. This method, involving a single injection into an adult female fly or pupa, represents a significant leap forward in the field of insect genetics.
**A Gradual Shift in Industry Practices**
The implications of FreezeM’s technologies are profound for the insect farming industry. With many companies seeking to demonstrate profitability and move away from capital-intensive vertical integration, FreezeM’s breeding-as-a-service model could become a cornerstone of a more mature, specialized industry.
FreezeM’s approach not only offers a solution to the breeding bottleneck but also presents an opportunity for existing insect farms to scale more rapidly and efficiently. By outsourcing breeding operations to regional hubs provided by FreezeM, insect ag companies can potentially reduce capital expenditures and operational risks associated with in-house breeding programs.
**The Industry at a Turning Point**
As FreezeM gears up to establish a network of breeding facilities across the globe, the insect agriculture industry stands at a pivotal moment. With the promise of increased yields, enhanced genetic traits, and a more streamlined supply chain, FreezeM’s innovations could herald a new era of sustainability and efficiency in the production of insect-based proteins.
The company’s current team of 27 in Israel and Europe is poised to lead this transformation, providing a glimpse into a future where insect protein is not only a viable alternative to traditional animal sources but also a model of agricultural innovation and specialization.