We are the first Polish company to have developed a process for obtaining a stable mass from mealworm larvae, which is an ideal addition for pet food products.
A new path
“For two years since the establishment of the company, we have been perfecting the cultivation of mealworm larvae and their processing. It is a new market and a new raw material, so we have been following the paths we have set for ourselves. We didn’t want to rush anything – our goal was a perfect product. And now, it’s time to showcase it,” says Joanna Skrzypkowska-Manicka, CEO of the company.
Currently, OVAD, the company that breeds mealworm larvae, offers live and dried larvae, as well as meal from dried larvae, and two new products dedicated strictly to companion animal feed manufacturers: mealworm paste based on dried larvae and fresh larvae.
Straight from nature
The characteristic features of our ingredients for petfood are their naturalness, minimal processing, eco-friendliness, easy digestibility, palatability, and pleasant aroma.
“Developing the appropriate technology for producing the paste was, of course, the result of many attempts. I believe that the most valuable aspect of our products, alongside all the advantages of mealworm larvae themselves, is their simplicity. It is a homogeneous feed material with a very low level of processing, which works great when combined with other feed ingredients,” says Professor Michał Krzyżaniak, Director of Research and Development.
One insect, many names
Until now, the black soldier fly undoubtedly attracted the most attention from animal feed producers. Despite its many unquestionably strong points, difficulties associated with obtaining a stable mass from it, as well as its unappealing smell and color, have caused the market to turn towards the mealworm.
“For us, it’s a natural step,” emphasizes Wojciech Zahaczewski, Sales Director at OVAD. “From the beginning, we focused on the mealworm. Although it is an insect with a longer life cycle, which might make it seem less profitable at first glance, we chose it precisely because of its appearance, palatability, and aroma. The economic differences even out in later stages. In processing, we simply enhance the good qualities of the mealworm; we don’t need to hide, cover, or add anything to make the product tasty for our furry friends. Interestingly, and it shows that we had good intuition, the French giant Ysnect has also gone in this direction.”
Currently, the company has production capacity of several tons of product per month, and the ingredients it produces for the pet food sector are suitable for both wet and dry food. In the next stage, the company plans to release its own product dedicated to dogs.
Go to see more about pet food ingredients by OVAD.