Beta Bugs boosts poultry insect protein ambitions with new funding

The Edinburgh-based Black Soldier Fly (BSF) genetics specialist has secured £800,000 in new investment from existing shareholders while also entering a strategic partnership with FreezeM Cryogenetics to bring its advanced HiPer-Fly genetics platform to producers across Europe.

The developments are significant for the poultry sector because insect meals continue to attract attention as a sustainable protein source for poultry feed. Improving the efficiency, productivity, and consistency of Black Soldier Fly production is a critical step toward increasing the availability and affordability of insect-based ingredients for commercial feed manufacturers.

Funding supports HiPer-Fly development

Beta Bugs said the latest funding will support key milestones ahead of the first commercial sales of its HiPer-Fly product, expected in early 2027. The company reported that independent trials completed in early 2026 demonstrated superior performance compared with industry benchmarks.

HiPer-Fly is the result of more than 45 generations of selective breeding designed to improve Black Soldier Fly performance. According to the company, recent comparative trials confirmed the benefits of its genetic improvement program, highlighting the growing role sophisticated breeding techniques play in the insect farming sector.

The investment announcement was accompanied by confirmation that Dr Alan Tinch has formally taken on the role of CEO. The company noted that Tinch brings extensive experience in commercializing advanced genetics programs in livestock sectors including chickens, pigs and salmon.

Dr Christopher Richards, chair of Beta Bugs, said the latest investment reflected investor confidence in the progress achieved over the past year. He also highlighted the value of Tinch's experience in translating advanced genetics into profitable commercial businesses.

Partnership to improve production consistency

Alongside the funding news, Beta Bugs has agreed to a strategic partnership with FreezeM Cryogenetics. The companies will combine Beta Bugs' genetics with FreezeM's proprietary PauseM suspended neonate technology to provide a more reliable and standardized biological starting point for insect producers.

Under the agreement, FreezeM will establish a HiPer-Fly breeding population at its German production facility. The site will serve as the foundation for producing HiPer-Fly-PauseM suspended neonates for commercial evaluation and test marketing.

The partners plan to conduct controlled and commercial trials during the second half of 2026, focusing on productivity, yield and consistency under real-world production conditions. Full commercialization is expected to follow in 2027.

Insect protein sector moves towards scale

For poultry feed manufacturers and integrated poultry businesses monitoring developments in alternative proteins, the partnership signals that the insect sector is moving steadily toward greater scale and professionalism. While insect protein remains a relatively small component of the global feed market, advances in genetics and production technologies are helping address long-standing challenges around biological performance, consistency and supply reliability.

Beta Bugs believes that combining superior genetics with innovative production technology will provide commercial insect producers with a higher-performing solution. If successful, the approach could help strengthen the supply chain for insect-derived feed ingredients and support wider adoption of sustainable protein sources within poultry nutrition.