# Using Insect Farming for a Sustainable Supply of Protein for Feedstock with Paul Hillmann, CTO at ENTOCYCLE

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 29
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/lnqz7l28-paul-hillmann-using-insect-farming-for-feedstock

## Summary

Paul Hillmann, CTO at Entocycle, explains how his company uses black soldier fly larvae to create sustainable, localized protein feed for livestock, replacing unsustainable fish meal and soy. He details the biological advantages of the larvae, such as rapid growth and high feed conversion, and describes Entocycle's automated technology, including the AntiSide Neo system for counting neonates and computer vision for fly population management. Hillmann discusses the company's stage of scaling production, their partnerships with universities and commercial operators, and the economic imperative to compete on cost with traditional feedstocks to drive adoption in the animal feed market.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=3) Introduction: Paul Hillmann and Entocycle's mission
- [1:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=113) Hillmann's background in stage technologies and transition to sustainability
- [6:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=407) The protein crisis and why black soldier flies are the solution
- [18:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=1107) The insect lifecycle: breeding, larval growth, and harvesting
- [22:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=1362) Automation and consistency: The AntiSide Neo and fly counting systems
- [30:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=1818) Market dynamics: Cost competitiveness and pet vs. feed markets
- [35:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=2133) Commercial operations, pilots, and university partnerships
- [38:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-22-using-insect-farming-for-a-sustainable-supply-of-protein-for-feedstock-with-paul#t=2306) Future vision, investors, and global localization

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Entocycle (company)
- black soldier fly (other)
- Tate stage technologies (company)
- Cirque du Soleil (other)
- AntiSide Neo (product)
- Beuler Sortex (company)
- Charge Fairy (company)
- University of Leeds (company)
- Clementum (company)

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- [3D Printed Fish And Meat, An In-depth Look Into The Future Of Food Tech | Hard Tech #2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-05-19-3d-printed-fish-and-meat-an-in-depth-look-into-the-future-of-food-tech-hard-tech) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [HIBT Lab! Wildtype: Aryé Elfenbein and Justin Kolbeck](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-06-02-hibt-lab-wildtype-arye-elfenbein-and-justin-kolbeck) (How I Built This)
- [R&D RADIO: Travis Zissu from Scale Food Lab](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-13-r-d-radio-travis-zissu-from-scale-food-lab) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [HIBT Lab! Yolélé: Pierre Thiam](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-08-25-hibt-lab-yolele-pierre-thiam) (How I Built This)
- [Reimagining seafood production with Aryé Elfenbein and Justin Kolbeck of Wildtype (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-06-29-reimagining-seafood-production-with-arye-elfenbein-and-justin-kolbeck-of-wildtyp) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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