Phnom Penh-based company GrubFeeds, operating under the motto "Waste to Feed", is aiming to play a vital role in Cambodia's ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The company is at the forefront of turning organic waste into sustainable animal feed, not only addressing the growing global demand for protein but directly contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and aligning with the nation's broader environmental strategies.

At the helm of GrubFeeds is Tapas Kuila who brings a unique background to the table. Having spent years in financial services, consulting and investment banking, he now finds himself immersed in a vastly different field – one that revolves around the potential of insect protein.

"I’m passionate about problem solving. When I was doing my research, I saw this as a major problem that needs to be addressed – a challenge I wanted to take on," he tells The Post.

This sentiment, combined with a deep understanding of manufacturing and operations from his finance days, has driven him to tackle the intersecting issues of waste management, sustainability and food security.

The company's mission is to produce sustainable feed ingredients using black soldier flies (BSF/ Hermetia illucens) while simultaneously reducing the amount of methane created by waste left to rot at dumps and in landfills.

According to UNDP, methane – a powerful GHG – traps more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2), making it 80 times more harmful than CO2 for 20 years after released into the atmosphere. The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) notes that it has a “100-year global warming potential 28-34 times that of CO2”.

By reducing GHG emissions through waste bioconversion and offering a sustainable feed alternative, GrubFeeds is helping Cambodia – and other Southeast Asian countries in the future – meet their environmental targets.

Growing need for alternatives

As the global population races toward an expected 10 billion by 2050, the demand for protein to sustain livestock and aquaculture has never been more pressing.

Tapas notes that animal feed has traditionally relied heavily on two key ingredients: soybean meal and fishmeal. However, he stresses that the future of fishmeal – a powder derived primarily from fish bycatch – is increasingly uncertain.

“The fundamental problem we’re addressing is something I refer to as ‘feed security’ rather than just ‘food security’. Currently, most of the protein that you, I or anyone consumes comes from two primary sources: soybean meal and fishmeal, which is produced from bycatch,” he says, referring to the massive use of these ingredients in the manufacture of animal feed, and hence animal-based protein consumed by humans, such as milk, eggs, meat and fish.

Tapas explains that bycatch – the unwanted fish species captured during commercial fishing operations – is expected to drastically decline in the coming decades due to overfishing, sometimes referred to as Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and tighter environmental regulations.

"The world’s oceans simply won’t have enough fishmeal to meet the needs of 10 billion people," explains Tapas, emphasising the urgency of finding sustainable alternatives.

This looming shortage has prompted a global search for alternative proteins.

“There are two main categories: insect and plant-based proteins. We’re focusing on how insect protein can be used as an ingredient in animal feed – feed for the chickens, pigs and cattle that eventually end up as food on our plates. This is why I use the terms ‘feed security’ and ‘food security’ together,” he says.

"By addressing feed security, we’re indirectly solving food security as well," Tapas explains. “The connection between the two is clear: without reliable sources of animal feed, the entire food supply chain is at risk,” he emphasises.

Tapas says the company produces three specific products: BSF larvae, BSF meal and BSF oil, the latter two of which are derived from processing the larvae. In addition, it also produces BSF frass (the larvae’s excrement), an excellent biofertiliser that helps offset chemical fertilisers and pesticides, stimulates natural plant immunity to pests (through chitin), augments drought resistance and soil water retention and improves plant, soil and beneficial microbe health.

With the clock ticking toward 2050, providing sustainable, scalable alternatives to traditional feed ingredients is a key priority.

Tapas highlights that BSF meal and oil offer a way to bolster feed security while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns.

As the company scales up its operations, it is contributing to a broader global effort to ensure that food systems remain resilient in the face of mounting pressures – whether from population growth, climate change or resource depletion.

The process

The process is straightforward but innovative: BSF larvae are fed organic waste ranging from wet market scraps to food processing by-products. As the larvae consume the waste, they grow rapidly, transforming what would otherwise be discarded into a high-protein, high-fat commodity.

For collecting the larvae, Tapas explains that they use specially designed equipment, some of which he created himself.

“It’s based on the concept that once they reach a certain age, the larvae instinctively seek to emerge. The design I developed features a specific angle and curvature. At a certain age, they are strong enough to climb up the slope and fall on the other side, where we can collect them,” he says.

“We know the precise angle required because the nutritional profile, and consequently the strength of the larvae, changes as they grow. Understanding how many days it takes for the larvae to reach a certain strength allows us to adjust the angle perfectly for optimal collection,” he adds.

However, not all larvae are able to make the climb. To collect the remainder, the company uses sifters equipped with precisely sized holes. Once the majority have made the leap, these machines are employed to gather the rest. After collection, the larvae are dried and either ground or pressed.

The resulting products, BSF larvae, BSF meal and BSF oil, are particularly valuable in aquaculture and livestock farming. BSF meal, a finely ground protein powder, can serve as a partial replacement for fishmeal and soybean meal in feed formulations, while BSF oil provides a rich source of healthy fats.

Both offer a renewable alternative to conventional feed ingredients, reducing the strain on natural resources while mitigating the environmental impact of waste disposal.

“Another major application for the oil we produce is in biofuels, specifically sustainable aviation fuel (SAF),” says Tapas. “SAF is used in the aviation industry as an alternative to traditional jet fuel. For example, Singapore recently issued a mandate requiring that by 2026, one per cent of all fuel used by aircraft at Changi and Seletar airports must be SAF, increasing to six per cent by 2030. Our insect oil isn’t the final SAF product, but it’s an important SAF ingredient.”

Improving livelihoods

Beyond developing a financially and environmentally sustainable model, the company’s aim is to create a meaningful impact for those at the grassroots level. To achieve this, they are exploring ways to decentralise their larvae production. GrubFeeds is currently running a pilot project to test whether local farmers, who already generate organic waste through their agricultural activities, can rear BSF larvae on-site.

“Waste is everywhere, it’s endemic. So instead of trying to process everything ourselves, we’re exploring a decentralised production model with partners,” Tapas says.

“For example, if you’re a farmer based in Kampong Speu and you have access to local waste, whether it’s from wet markets or other sources, I could tell you, ‘If you process 100 kilogrammes of waste per day, at the end of the month I’ll buy back all the larvae you produce’. We would then centralise the processing of the larvae into the final products,” he explains.

He notes that there is a critical mass – a “magic threshold” – that each individual producer would need to make the effort viable. The model becomes truly effective when around 100 producers are involved, and Tapas is confident that they can engage at least 150.

“The goal here isn’t just about making sense from a business perspective but also about enhancing the livelihoods of these farmers. Raising larvae doesn’t require much effort, and farmers are already generating waste,” Tapas says. “By entering into off-take agreements with them, a farmer could easily earn an extra $200 to $300 per month if they manage everything correctly.”

He highlights that the model not only raises awareness and educates producers, but also integrates well with their existing operations.

“I don’t mean to limit the term ‘producers’ to just farmers – they can also be associations or agricultural corporations, as long as they can process the necessary critical mass,” he says.

GrubFeeds uses its own transport system with simple trailers that can carry 1.5 to 2 tonnes of waste per trip. For now, Phnom Penh’s wet markets supply enough waste to meet the company’s needs, however, as the model is scalable, decentralisation aligns with its future growth plans.

Scaling up operations

As GrubFeeds continues to evolve, the company has its sights set on growth, both in terms of production capacity and market reach. The success of their waste-to-feed model and the increasing demand for sustainable feed ingredients has laid a solid foundation for future expansion.

At present, GrubFeeds operates with a modest but impactful production capacity. The company processes approximately 300 to 400 kilogrammes of organic waste daily, which translates into nearly 2 tonnes of larvae per month. However, the goal is to scale up dramatically in the near future.

“We aim to produce about 100 tonnes per month of the BSF meal,” explains Tapas.

Achieving this target will require the company to process anywhere from 60 to 100 tonnes of organic waste per day, depending on the type.

“The key point here is that you need to process tonnes of waste per day to be able to make an impact, and that is precisely what we are aiming to achieve,” he says.

Tapas notes that in 2022, Biomar, one of the world’s largest aquafeed companies, used 240,000 tonnes of fishmeal annually.

“Replacing even one per cent of that would require 2,400 tonnes of BSF meal per year, or 200 tonnes per month – and that is just one producer,” he says. “The goal is to be both large-scale and economical. That’s why I conducted this pilot – to prove whether the unit economics work. And they do.”

Tapas notes that the company actively seeks and engages stakeholders across the value chain, including government bodies, NGOs and the private sector.

To facilitate their growth, GrubFeeds is currently fundraising to invest in machinery, equipment and the necessary talent to meet the demand. The company has already seen strong interest from buyers in the animal feed and pet food industries, making the expansion a natural next step.

Future vision

GrubFeeds’ long-term vision is to become a key player in the global sustainable feed market, reshaping food systems and reducing reliance on environmentally damaging feed ingredients.

The company is also strategically targeting export markets where demand for sustainable aquaculture feed is particularly high.

“Shrimp farming, for example, requires large amounts of high-quality protein feed, and BSF meal has proven to be a promising solution,” says Tapas.

Beyond aquaculture, the company is exploring opportunities in the poultry and pork industries, as well as pet food, all of which have a strong need for protein-rich feed alternatives.

According to Tapas, the company has ambitious plans to expand its operations beyond Cambodia, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. Countries like Indonesia and Thailand, which have strong agricultural sectors but significant waste management challenges, are prime candidates for the company’s decentralised production model.

As the world grapples with the dual challenges of feeding a growing population and combating climate change, GrubFeeds’ innovative approach could serve as a blueprint for how businesses can lead the way toward a more sustainable future.