34: Next Generation Insect Crop Innovation Startup, Beta Bugs, and Founder, Dr. Thomas, to Create Next Generation Feed, Food, and Fuel 

Summary: Next Generation Feed, Food, and Fuel using next generation insect crop creation to make specific Black soldier fly evolutions to meet the needs of a variety of agriculture sectors.<br> Discussion about Black Soldier Fly evolution to create next-generation crops that will drive a sustainable bioeconomy that produces feed, food, and fuel. We also get into his startup journey, how he had to transfer out a member of the founding team, and what he learned from that situation on founding greater teams, his fears, and some of his accomplishments.<br> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-farrugia-233b88136/">Thomas’s Linkedin link.</a><br> <br> About Beta Bugs<br> <br> “Beta Bugs is a cutting edge biotechnology company that produces enhanced insect strains for the growing insect farming industry. The domesticated, optimized strains we produce provide benefits at all levels of the production chain ensuring the industry is both more profitable and sustainable. We accelerate the evolution of the organisms to create traits that ensure greatly superior final products ” <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/betabugs/">Source </a><br> Additionally:<br> “At Beta Bugs we know the insect industry has huge potential, both environmentally and economically. Insects, such as the Black Soldier Fly, are excellent sources of protein for feed as well as a broad range of other resources from bio-materials to fuel.<br> However, having only recently been domesticated, insects, unlike other agricultural species, are far from optimized for industry. There are huge improvements to be made in efficiency, quality of produce and ease of farming. At Beta Bugs we are changing this through the application of state of the art breeding programmes and tried and tested bio-techniques.” <a href="https://www.betabugs.uk/">source</a><br> Beta Bugs and Thomas were also a part of Deep Science Ventures. <a href="http://www.learningwithlowell.com/podcast-episode-20-dominic-falcao-founder-of-deep-science-ventures-an-early-stage-venture-builder-based-in-the-uk/">Check out the episode we did on them with their Founder Dom. </a><br> Hyperlinked Timestamped Show Notes:<br> <br> * [ 01:30 ] Who is on their team, and what they do. Additionally, how he used to have a co-founder, and how they parted ways.<br> * [ 03:50 ] What inspired him to want to create Beta Bugs and a bit of his backstory (i.e. PhD).<br> * [ 07:30 ] What he thought about in creating his breeding techniques and the many places he pulled from.<br> * [ 09:36 ] How he is using traditional breeding over GMO type practices and the benefits of doing so.<br> * [ 10:50 ] How long until they have a viable product and the first market they are targeting.<br> * [ 11:44 ] His thoughts on a customer-driven approach, and the types of things his potential customers are looking for.<br> * [ 13:00 ] His first product development in regards to salmon, and why he choose it.<br> * [ 13:58 ] His thoughts on adding compounds/processes to bugs which then makes it possible for the bugs to give salmon their pink coloring.<br> * [ 15:30 ] How he plans things out.<br> * [ 16:12 ] We discuss his team of advisers, and how they have helped in his development.<br> * [ 16:50 ] Grey hair fallacy, and how he finds advisers.<br> * [ 18:14 ] How he gets them on the team and keeps them excited.<br> * [ 18:43 ] How DSV helped him out, and the first ways they challenged him.<br> * [ 20:50 ] His thoughts on different levels of feed stock and trait costs similar to Telsa’s car tiers.<br> * [ 23:20 ] Why build out a catalog as a breeding company.<br> * [ 24:30 ] His thoughts on vertical vs horizontal integration.<br> * [ 26:30 ] His thoughts on competition, roadblocks, and his value proposition.<br> * [ 27:30 ] What the benefits of going horizontal vs vertical are.<br> * [ 28:46 ] Books and other recommendations, and his thoughts on them.