Tackling the Global Food Crisis with Insect-Based Solutions

     Faced with a projected global population of over 10 billion by the century’s end and escalating food scarcity, innovative solutions are urgently needed. Traditional food production heavily impacts climate change and wastes about a third of all food produced. Entrepreneurs Alejandro Ortega and Daniela Arias from Costa Rica identified insects as a sustainable food source, rich in nutrients but requiring fewer resources than traditional livestock.

Sibö B.V.’s Insect-Based Nutrient Innovations

     In 2020, Ortega and Arias founded Sibö B.V., named after a deity representing sustainable natural resource use. The company created the first water-soluble insect-based protein extract, ‘cricket flour’, aimed at providing a sustainable alternative to traditional food sources, especially for vulnerable groups. Overcoming consumer reluctance and technical challenges, they developed an efficient method to process insect nutrients, resulting in this innovative water-soluble protein.

Intellectual Property and Diverse

     Applications Sibö B.V. prioritized protecting their intellectual property (IP) and relocating to The Hague for more efficient IP processes. They patented their protein extract and extraction technology by 2021, maintaining certain methods as trade secrets. Their efforts extend beyond food products, exploring insect components’ transformation into materials for industries like pharmaceuticals and creating biodegradable packaging from insect chitin.

Commitment to Sustainable Development and Future Plans

     Their work aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing zero hunger, sustainable production, poverty alleviation, gender equality, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Sibö B.V. plans to shift towards IP licensing, collaborating with others in the growing insect-based industry.

Sources:

Article titled “Sibö Unlocks the Potential of Insect-Based Food with Entowise” available in WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)

https://www.wipo.int/web/ip-advantage/w/stories/sib-unlocks-the-potential-of-insect-based-food-with-entowise