SIMON HAZELL, H’22
A technology-driven insect protein producer with a novel approach
Food waste in supply chains, particularly at crop production level is a major issue worldwide, especially in developing countries where cold chain transportation logistics networks are not well established. This generates high levels of pre-consumer waste, which is a huge contributor to greenhouse gasses. In addition to this sustainability crisis, technology has not been updated in the last 100 years to manage waste. Globally, three solutions are available to manage organic waste: composting, anaerobic digestion and landfilling. With many shortfalls including limited end-product usability, economic viability issues and environmental degradation, Hazell saw an opportunity to do things differently and sustainably.
While looking into alternative organic waste management solutions, he came across insect protein. He found the industry so compelling that he quit his job and co-founded Inseco in 2018 to make a positive and lasting impact on the global food system by becoming a leading supplier of insect protein across the globe, helping to close the loop on waste in the food value chain and bringing the industry closer towards carbon-neutrality.
“I want to help create a world where every day necessities don’t come at the price of finite resources”
A technology-driven insect protein producer with a novel approach
After completing two pilot projects, Inseco conceptualized an outgrower model, whereby they outsourced the growing to smaller independent contract insect growers around the continent, located at the source of the waste. The transportation of raw materials has an economic and environmental impact on production, so by locating the insect growing at the source of the raw material, they were able to improve the sustainability and commercial viability of insect production. This not only generated structural cost advantages but allowed the company to scale faster and contributed to job creation with each plant creating approximately 35 local jobs. With some angel financing in place, they were able to take over a state-of-the-art 10,000m2 factory outside Cape Town. In April 2022, they secured $5.3 million to further increase production, conduct ongoing research and development and expand into the export market.
The company currently has the capacity to produce more than 100 tonnes of insect oil and defatted insect meal per month. This goes into EntoMeal and EntoOil, Inseco’s flagship products, which are nutritious, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional animal feed ingredients such as fishmeal and fish oil. It also produces a fertilizer from the excrement and shed exoskeletons of the larvae. Most of Inseco’s customers are in the aquaculture, pet food, and poultry industries. They found that by displacing a certain percentage of fishmeal in an animal’s diet with insect protein, farmers could increase growth rates and decrease feed conversion rates. This meant feeding livestock less feed in total over its lifecycle, which ultimately means producing more product for lower cost. Inseco is exploring international expansion with several potential commercial partners in different countries.
By 2027, Inseco aims to produce 100 000 tonnes of insect protein per year from 1 million tonnes of organic waste. If they achieve this, they will help to keep 500 000 tonnes of wild fish in our oceans each year.
Inseco was the winner of the 2018 BioValSA competition, which aims to establish and create formal business relationships between high potential South African companies with a green-technology business focus and their counterparts in the Netherlands. In 2019, they were the runner up in the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards in the youth-owned business category. In 2019, Inseco was the winner of the South African Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP), which encourages local innovations in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy, waste beneficiation, water efficiency and green transport. After winning the South African leg of GCIP, Inseco took part in the global leg of the competition hosted in Vienna, Austria, winning against other GCIP winners from around the world.
LEARN MORE ABOUT INSECO
Inseco converts low-value organic by-products into nutritious and sustainable insect ingredients. Our products have numerous applications in animal feed, pet food, crop production, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
A value genesis rooted in innovation
ABOUT SIMON HAZELL
Hazell has an uncompromising dedication to the development of sustainable protein with an unwavering enthusiasm for circular systems. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and an Honors degree in Economics from the University of Cape Town.
In 2018, Inseco was crowned the winner of the BioValSA competition, which aims to establish and create formal business relationships between high potential South African companies with a green-technology business focus and their counterparts in the Netherlands. In 2019, they were the runner up in the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards in the youth-owned business category. In 2019, Inseco was the overall winner of the South African Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP), which aims to encourage local innovations in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy, waste beneficiation, water efficiency and green transport. After winning the South African leg of GCIP, Inseco took part in the global leg of the competition hosted in Vienna, Austria where they competed against other GCIP winners from around the world and where they were announced the global overall winner.
I AM A HARAMBEAN
Having been a founder, grown a team and worked in a high-growth sector with the potential to deliver commercial, social and environmental benefits across the continent, Hazell is adding his experiences from leading Inseco to help others who are starting on their journey.
“I care deeply about African innovation and the value that it can bring to people across the continent.”