NRGene Canada and Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Co. validate omega-3-rich black soldier fly larvae fed on fish processing byproducts

NRGene Canada and Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Company have announced a milestone in their black soldier fly (BSF) partnership, completing a semi-industrial trial that validated a dedicated BSF feed recipe containing 50% fish processing byproducts and yielding larvae rich in marine omega-3 fatty acids.

The trial was conducted at the North American Insect Center (NAIC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. According to the companies, the run processed 0.3 metric tons of feed and produced approximately 90 kilograms of MaxBSF larvae, achieving a wet feed conversion ratio (FCR) of approximately 3.3. The production cycle spanned eleven days — a five-day nursery stage followed by a six-day grow-out.

Fish processing byproducts are described as high in moisture and fat and prone to rapid spoilage, making them difficult to incorporate into conventional BSF production. NRGene Canada said the trial demonstrated that the combination of a purpose-built feed recipe, controlled conditions, and its MaxBSF genetics could overcome these challenges at a commercially meaningful scale.

"We set out to demonstrate that a difficult waste stream could be converted efficiently and consistently at a commercially meaningful scale," said Yossi Levi, chief business officer of NRGene Canada. "The run confirmed the process scales, and the economics hold up."

Independent nutritional analysis by Prairie Tide Diversified, described as a CALA-accredited laboratory in Saskatoon, compared MaxBSF larvae reared on the fish-based feed with larvae of the same genetics reared on standard feed. The fish-fed larvae were found to contain several times more total omega-3 than the standard-feed larvae, and to contain the marine omega-3s EPA and DHA, neither of which was detected in the standard-feed larvae.

"These results matter because conventional BSF larvae generally contain very limited levels of EPA and DHA," said Dr. Ben Gradus, director of product, BSF at NRGene Canada. "By incorporating fish processing byproducts into the feed, we can produce MaxBSF™ larvae that combine insect protein with valuable marine omega-3 fatty acids."

The partnership, first announced in January 2025, is designed to use locally generated fish processing waste from northwest Saskatchewan and convert it into a nutritious feed supplement for poultry. The companies said that when fed to laying hens, the larvae could support eggs with higher omega-3 content. The omega-3-enriched larvae are also intended to enhance NRGene Canada's MaxBites dried BSF larvae product.

With the feed recipe validated, the partners said they are planning an on-site BSF rearing facility in Ile-a-la-Crosse, SK, sized to the volume of byproducts generated locally. Rearing on site is intended to avoid transporting a highly perishable feedstock while creating local employment and retaining economic value within the community.

"Our community is proud to be at the forefront of this innovative work," said Tyler Morin, CEO of Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Company. "This partnership reflects our cultural values of sustainability and way of life. Processing our by-products locally means more of the jobs, knowledge and value stay in Ile-a-la-Crosse."

Neonates for the planned on-site facility would be supplied by FairGene, a joint venture between NRGene Canada and Fairville Farming Co. in Bassano, Alberta, which the companies said began producing BSF eggs in July 2026. NRGene Canada described this arrangement as part of a hub-and-spoke model pairing centralised egg and neonate production with regional rearing sites located close to local byproduct streams.

"This is a scalable model, not a one-time project," said Levi. "We take a local organic by-product, develop a dedicated feed, supply high-quality neonates from a central egg facility and establish the rearing operation close to the feedstock. Many regional by-product streams could benefit from the same approach."

The source of the announcement is NRGene, as reported by Provisioner Online on 25 September 2026.