Frequently Asked Questions

• What should you know about the black soldier fly (BSF)?

  The black soldier fly is a widespread insect specie, naturally occurring in parts of Europe. They are slow-moving and non-invasive, do not sting and do not spread diseases. Adult insects typically have the life span of only 1-2 weeks.

• What is the guarantee that the flies will not leave the factory?

  We operate a strictly, precise trap system, since we not only want to prevent flies from escaping, but we also want to prevent other insects from entering our facility. The production is hermetically sealed off from the outside world with multiple layers of security. There is no escape or entry into such a system.

• How much water does the plant use?

  Larvae breeding is the most efficient and environmentally conscious option of livestock farming known in the world today. This is mainly because it requires a minimum amount of water. The activity in the 13,000 m3 hall will use 40 m3 of water per day, and up to 80 m3 at full production capacity. To produce the same amount of white protein flour from fish, it would require at least five times this volume.

• How much waste water does the plant produce?

  At full production capacity, it produces a maximum of 80 m3 of chemical-free wastewater per day. A wheat processing plant of similar size, would result in 250 m3 of wastewater per day.

• What chemicals are used and discharged?

  We use only biodegradable cleaning agents for cleaning: we do not use chemicals, as our principle is to use the greenest possible solutions in all areas.

• How much truck traffic does the plant generate?

  About 6-8 trucks a day.

• Will the proposed plant cause any light or noise pollution?

  Operation does not require an extraordinary amount of machinery, we typically move small units during production, so the plant will operate with minimal light and noise impact, in compliance with the current regulatory requirements in this area.

• Can the larvae eat meat or carrion?

  No, we cannot feed them meat or carrion. Even if we could, we would not. Also in this case, the environmental protection and a circular economy that promotes green issues are key considerations for us.

• Has an impact assessment been carried out for the project, taking into account the characteristics of the production site, and if so, is it accessible?

  The new investment will also be prepared and implemented in full compliance with current legislation and environmental standards. The documentation submitted will be examined by the environment protection authorities and only if they are satisfied will they issue a permit.

  Our existing portfolio and operational units tell you everything you need to know about the expected impact of the investment: we are thinking about solutions that will support both the agricultural sector and local communities without being noticed. We are always happy to talk about our own experiences and past investments, because we are not only proud of our work, but we are very much driven by a sense of mission.

  Into the Aerozone Park in Üllő, along the M0 motorway, We are bringing an environmentally friendly technology that is important beyond the city limits: it supports the circular economy of the whole country by producing an organic soil improvement product while reducing CO₂ emissions.

  Such an investment can raise the profile and recognition of our region, as it is further proof that these cities are supporting environmentally friendly, green solutions that will make our daily lives sustainable in the long term.

• What are the possible development ideas for the future?

  We have no further development plans for the time being: we are now focusing on supporting the domestic agricultural sector through investment, reducing import dependency and connecting Üllő to the domestic circular economy.

• Is there a so-called contingency plan?

  We have a very strict corporate protocol for dealing with unplanned events and our contingency plan complies with the requirements of the environment protection authorities in all our operational areas. Otherwise we would not have been granted an operating licence.

  We will have the opportunity to finalise the contingency plans for each site after the machinery installations. But of course, we can talk about the standard procedure. In the event of an unplanned incident, the key word is complete evacuation. In such cases, the entire material flow of the plant is loaded onto trucks. We will have machines available on site with spare capacity to do this. The trucks will immediately transport the affected material stream to an external composting plant, and after the complete evacuation, we will carry out disinfection and machine washing.

• A sample plant is in operation in Törökkoppány. What is the feedback from the public there?

  We have been present in Törökkoppány for 2 years and we have never disturbed anyone with our activities. There are no complaints about air pollution or odours from the local residents, because nothing like that happens. We have an excellent relationship with the municipality leadership and we have a completely open and friendly relationship with the local residents, which we feel is mutual.

• When you think of a protein plant, many people immediately think of carcass processing.

  That is not the case at all. We are not talking about vertebrate animals here, we’re talking about super-simple organisms. We deactivate and wash them with hot water. And we immediately turn the killed larvae into fodder: there are no carcasses or remains that we don’t use.

• What is the guarantee that there will be no unpleasant smell around the factory?

  We use modern technology and a double protection system to prevent the release of odorous substances in order to prevent any odour effects. We emit factory air below the limits in force at any given time.

  The larvae frass granulation plant is also enclosed, but the frass itself has a negligible, mild odour.