Specialized fly larvae facility in production in Alberta

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William Wipf, secretary at Fairville Farming Co., said genetics have been central to the project from the start.

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“NRGene Canada brought the genetics platform and expertise we were looking for, and through FairGene we’re turning that shared vision into a dedicated facility here in Alberta,” Wipf said.

Compared with industry-standard lines, MaxBSF™ has higher larval density and weight, a shorter time to harvest and up to 2.1 times greater output, allowing producers to generate more biomass per cycle using the same infrastructure.

NRGene Canada has also developed a neonate delivery system that ships one-day-old larvae directly to producers. The system currently supports up to one million neonates per container, with capacity expected to reach 2.5 million by the end of 2026. The larvae have a two-week shelf life from hatching, providing producers with a ready-to-rear starting point without the need for on-site egg incubation.

FairGene is an important step in bringing MaxBSF™ genetics into dedicated egg production, according to Yossi Levi, CBO at NRGene Canada.

“Together with Fairville’s agricultural experience and production capabilities, we’re creating a practical platform to support BSF producers worldwide with reliable, genetics-based egg supply,” Levi said.

Unlike common houseflies, black soldier flies do not spread disease and are not considered pests. They are used in specialized composting systems to consume large volumes of decomposing organic matter, helping divert food waste from landfills.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com