Abstract: The present invention relates to lipid compositions derived from insects. The intrinsic chemical/physical properties of insect derived lipids limit the possibilities for widespread and large-scale use. An enzymatic process for the partial hydrolysis and transesterification of insect extracted lipids is provided. The process alters the ratio of triglyceride (TAG), diglycerides (DAG), monoglycerides (MAG) and free fatty acids (FFA) of the crude insect lipid and also results in the transesterification of fatty acids on glyceride backbone yielding a lipid composition that combines an increased dispersibility in water, a more favourable hardness profile (as a function of temperature) and a melting point slightly above ambient temperature. The compositions of the invention further have good nutritive properties as well as some interesting functional properties, e.g. anti-microbial effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rearing invertebrates by utilizing a plurality of crates arranged into at least one stack, each crate in the stack defining an airflow path there through from an inlet opening in a first wall to an outlet opening in a second wall opposite the first wall of each crate. The plurality of crates are arranged in a climate controlled chamber.

Abstract: An insect breeding device comprising includes at least one insect cage having a top wall with a non-curved and flat surface or having a top wall with a concave inner surface; a bin for holding a cleaning liquid; and a first pipe for receiving the cleaning liquid and entering the cage through a first opening; a nozzle (14), coupled to the first pipe, positioned inside the at least one insect cage configured to deliver the cleaning liquid to the interior of the at least one insect cage; and a second pipe (4), coupled to a second opening (12), and located in the bottom wall of the cage and/or located in a side wall of the cage, in the side wall portion where the bottom wall and said side wall intersect configured to drain the cleaning liquid and the debris remaining from farming insects in the cage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insect protein composition for use as a food supplement or a feed supplement, or a medicament, or to an insect protein composition for use in a method for the prophylaxis or treatment of inflammation, in particular inflammatory intestinal diseases, such as IBD and chronic enteropathy. Typically, the insect is black soldier fly larvae. Typically, the protein is water-soluble protein such as a water-soluble protein fraction from insect, and/or enzymatically hydrolysed protein, such as enzymatically hydrolysed insect protein. As part of the invention, the insect protein composition inhibits and/or prevents oxidative damage induced by macrophages and/or inhibits and/or prevents macrophage activation and/or inhibits and/or prevents cell lysis and/or inhibits and/or prevents reactive oxygen species formation by a cell and/or comprises glucosamine. The invention also relates to a food or feed supplement, ingredient or product, comprising the insect protein composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insect protein composition for use as a medicament, or for use in a method for the prophylaxis or treatment of inflammation, osteoarthritis, synovial inflammation, synovial macrophage activation, macrophage-induced synovial damage, or low-grade inflammatory disease of a joint. Typically, the insect is black soldier fly larvae. Typically, the protein is water-soluble protein and/or enzymatically hydrolysed protein. Preferably, the composition comprises glucosamine. As part of the invention, the insect protein composition inhibits and/or prevents macrophage activation, and/or prevents or inhibits macrophage-induced synovial damage, and/or inhibits and/or prevents cell lysis and/or inhibits and/or prevents reactive oxygen species formation by a cell and/or comprises glucosamine. The invention also relates to a food or feed supplement, ingredient or product, comprising the insect protein composition.

Abstract: A cyclone separation system (1) for separating live insects, comprising a discharge nozzle (5) having a discharge end (7) comprising a discharge channel (8) for discharging live insects from the cyclone separation system (1) when in use. The discharge channel (8) comprises primary air injection channels (11) arranged to provide an injected upstream air flow (F) in an upstream direction (U) back into the discharge nozzle (5) for stopping discharge of live insects. The discharge nozzle (5) comprises an inner wall part (12) extending between an intake end (6) of the discharge nozzle (5) and the discharge channel (8), wherein the inner wall part (12) comprises elongated secondary air injection channels (13) extending from the discharge channel (8) in the upstream direction (U), wherein the secondary air injection channels (13) are arranged to provide an injected lateral air flow (V) along the inner wall part (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray for use in large-scale industrial insect farming. More in particular, the invention relates to a live insects tray for incubating insects prepupae and pupae, the tray having a space limited by walls, for housing insect prepupae and pupae, wherein the walls are impenetrable by an insect, and that at least one of the walls is at least partly permeable for gases, such as the top wall. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rack for holding at least one tray and relates to an assembly having said rack and at least one of said trays. The invention also relates to the use of said rack with at least one tray or said assembly for incubating insect prepupae. In addition the invention relates to a method for incubating insect prepupae and/or insect pupae, preferably of black soldier fly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in large-scale industrial insect farming. More in particular, the invention relates to an insects transport device for transporting live insects from a first location to a predetermined second location, the insects transport device comprising a gas guiding unit, a gas discharge member and a feeder arrangement, wherein the insects transport device is configured to receive live insects such as freshly hatched neonate larvae, for example of black soldier fly, or mites, wherein the live insects are directly taken up in a laminar flow of gas after exiting the feeder arrangement in a free fall under influence of gravitation such that the live insects do not contact any surface of the insects transport device, and while in said gas are transported to a predetermined location in the insects transport device. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the device in industrial insect farming, such as large-scale farming of black soldier flies or mites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in large-scale industrial insect farming. More in particular, the invention relates to an insects transport device for transporting live insects from a first location to a predetermined second location, the insects transport device comprising a gas guiding unit, a gas discharge member and a feeder arrangement, wherein the insects transport device is configured to receive live insects such as freshly hatched neonate larvae, for example of black soldier fly, or mites, wherein the live insects are directly taken up in a laminar flow of gas after exiting the feeder arrangement in a free fall under influence of gravitation such that the live insects do not contact any surface of the insects transport device, and while in said gas are transported to a predetermined location in the insects transport device. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the device in industrial insect farming, such as large-scale farming of black soldier flies or mites.

Abstract: The invention relates to the batch-wise provision of insect paste, such as paste from minced and heated black soldier fly larvae. In addition, the invention relates to a cooling assembly for batch-wise provision of the insect paste. Moreover, the invention relates to an insect paste and to an insect paste obtainable with the method. Finally, the invention relates to a food product, food ingredient, feed product or feed ingredient comprising the insect paste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing enzymatically hydrolysed water-soluble insect proteins, in particular from black soldier fly larvae protein as the protein source. In addition, the present invention relates to enzymatically hydrolysed water-soluble insect proteins and to Maillard reaction products of enzymatically hydrolysed water-soluble insect proteins, in particular from black soldier fly larvae protein as the protein source. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the enzymatically hydrolysed water-soluble insect proteins or to the use of the Maillard reaction products of enzymatically hydrolysed water-soluble insect proteins.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rearing invertebrates by utilizing a plurality of crates arranged into at least one stack, each crate in the stack defining an airflow path there through from an inlet opening in a first wall to an outlet opening in a second wall opposite the first wall of each crate. The plurality of crates are arranged in a climate controlled chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rearing invertebrates by utilize a plurality of crates (4) arranged into a plurality of stacks (6), each crate (4) in each stack (6) defining an airflow path (80) there through from an inlet opening (48) in a first wall (46) to an outlet opening (48) in a second wall (46) opposite the first wall (46) of each crate (4). The plurality of crates (4) are arranged in a climate controlled chamber (2).

Abstract: Connector assembly (100), system and method for converting a batch wise supply of insects (102) to a continuous supply of insects (102). A container unit is present (105) having an internal volume, a water inlet unit (106-109, 117), and a suspension outlet unit (110-113). A receiving unit (101) has a top opening (101a) arranged for receiving batch wise quantities of insects (102) and a bottom opening (114). A conveyor unit (104) has a receiving part (104b) arranged near the bottom opening (114) of the receiving unit (101), and an outlet end (119) extending into the container unit (105). By suspending the insects (102) in water it is possible to transport the suspension of insects (102) in water, e.g. to a buffer container (300).

Abstract: An insect breeding device comprising at least one insect cage; a bin for holding drinking water or a tap for providing drinking water; a first pipe connected to the tap for receiving the drinking water, wherein the pipe is entering the at least one insect cage through a first opening; a nozzle, coupled to the first pipe, positioned inside the at least one insect cage configured to deliver the drinking water to the interior of the at least one insect cage; and a second pipe, coupled to a second opening, different from the first opening and located in the top wall of the cage or in a side wall of the cage, in the at least one insect cage, configured to deliver conditioned air into the at least one insect cage; and a third pipe, coupled to a third opening, different from the first and second opening and located in the top wall of the cage or in a side wall of the cage opposite to the second opening, in the at least one insect cage, configured to receive the conditioned air from the at least one insect cage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling hatching of Black soldier fly eggs, comprising the steps of incubating the eggs at a selected temperature for a selected time period; cooling the incubated eggs at a temperature lower than the selected temperature, starting at a selected time point; warming the eggs again at the selected temperature for a further selected period, up till the eggs hatch. Furthermore, the invention relates to a batch of Black soldier fly eggs kept at the temperature at which the eggs are cooled according to the invention, which cooled eggs are capable of hatching once warmed at the selected temperature according to the invention for a predetermined period of time. This way the invention provides for a method for delaying of hatching of an egg. Furthermore, the method of the invention and the batch of cooled eggs of the invention provide a method for synchronizing of hatching of a first egg and a second egg which are deposited at a first time point and at a second time point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the provision of degutted insects, such as black soldier fly larvae and mealworm, preferably live degutted insects. The invention also relates to degutted (live or dead) insects such as larvae and to processed degutted insects such as larvae. The invention also relates to the use of the degutted insect according to the invention or use of the processed degutted insect of the invention for the separation of the degutted insect or of the processed degutted insect in at least a fat fraction and/or at least a protein fraction. In addition, the invention relates to an insect product, wherein the insect product is any one of live or dead insect, insect puree, minced insect, insect powder, particulate insect, granulated insect, or insect meal, dried insect, oven-dried insect, lyophilized insect, or oven-dried insect using refractive drying obtained from degutted insect provided with the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns crop protection, in particular the prevention and treatment of infestations of agricultural crops by pest insects, such as insects belonging to the Thysanoptera order (Thrips). The invention is predicated on the finding that thrips sensitive crops benefit significantly from treatment with a biological crop protection agent derived from (industrial) insect farming by-products. Treatments of the invention not only result in an overall reduction in the number of thrips on the crop (as compared to untreated crop), but also in an overall increase in crop yield and quality. The invention provides the crop protection agent, methods of treating agricultural and/or horticultural crop using the crop protection agent and uses of said crop protection agent for treating agricultural and/or horticultural crop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting insects into a nutrient stream, such as a puree, an enzymatically hydrolysed puree, a fat fraction and a protein fraction. The invention further relates to the (hydrolysed) puree and to the fractions obtainable by said methods and to their use as a food or feed product or as an ingredient therefore. The invention also relates to a method for converting insect larvae into a composition with anti-oxidant properties. Thus, the invention also relates to a method for converting insect larvae into an antioxidant composition. In addition, the invention relates to a composition with anti-oxidant properties obtainable by said method and to the use of the composition as a health promoting food ingredient or as a feed ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting insects into nutrient streams, such as a puree, an enzymatically hydrolysed puree, a fat fraction and a protein fraction. The invention further relates to the (hydrolysed) puree and to the fractions obtainable by said methods and to their use as a food or feed product or as an ingredient therefore. The invention also relates to a method for converting insect larvae into a composition with anti-oxidant properties. Thus, the invention also relates to a method for converting insect larvae into an antioxidant composition. In addition, the invention relates to a composition with anti-oxidant properties obtainable by said method and to the use of the composition as a health promoting food ingredient or as a feed ingredient.