Possible Ventures invests in Bardee

According to a 2021 United Nations report, one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. 1.3 billion tonnes each year. Most of this wasted food ends up rotting in landfill and producing methane — a greenhouse gas that's 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

The economic and environmental impact is immense: 25% of water used in agriculture is used to grow food that is ultimately wasted; and food waste produces eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

"If food waste was a country it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind the USA and China." — Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Looking beyond the terrible waste, it's apparent that today’s agriculture and food systems are driving biodiversity collapse and climate change. Food production generates more than a third of manmade greenhouse gas emissions. To feed 10 billion people and cut GHG emissions we must rapidly scale new systems of sustainable food production.

Bardee prevents food waste from turning into methane and recycles the nutrients back into the food system — with the help of a few billion insects.

“Insects are nature’s most powerful upcyclers and are the missing link to reshape our food system. Food production must double by 2050 to feed the global population, but a third of food produced today ends up in landfills. Bardee produces proteins, fats, and fertilizers from food waste with insects and uses no additional water, hormones or additives to replace unsustainable food sources being shipped across the globe. Bardee’s technology has the potential to play a pivotal role in the transition to a sustainable circular economy where we avoid the devastating impacts of climate change.” — Bardee CEO & Co-founder, Phoebe Gardner.

The team at Bardee — which means "edible insect" in three different First Nations languages —has built an impressive high-revenue, low-waste operation. Suppliers pay Bardee to take in the food waste which is fed to Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL). The BSFL excrement is used to produce a fertiliser that's sold to farmers as an economically viable organic option. Then, at the end of a short lifecycle, the BSFL is harvested as a nutrient-rich protein that's used in pet foods, livestock feed and aquafeeds.

This process offsets two tonnes of [CO2e](https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/tool/definitions/co2e.html#:~:text=Carbon dioxide equivalent or CO,in 40 CFR Part 98.) for every tonne of food waste processed.

Bardee is on a mission is to reshape the global food system.

Due to their low environmental impact and ability to be reared on waste, insects are increasingly recognised as low-impact protein alternative. They are also more resource-efficient than other sources of protein and feed, like soy, corn, forage fish and meat.

Insect ingredients have applications in many fields, from material science to pet food, feed, and food.

Co-founders, Phoebe Gardner and Alex Arnold, share a vision for transforming the food system in every city of the world. They anticipate that the Black Soldier Fly will soon be approved by food standards regulators to be sold as a protein product.

“It’s just a matter of time [before it is approved], and Bardee will be ready to supply insect protein food to people.” — Phoebe Gardner

Phoebe and Alex have spent the last five years developing Bardee’s revolutionary system and attracting a team of world-class STEM talent to help them realise their world-changing vision.

We're proud to have the opportunity to participate in Bardee's $5m funding alongside Blackbird Ventures, Greta Bradman, Didier Elzinga, and Simon Griffiths. We'll be cheering Phoebe, Alex and the entire Bardee team on as they reshape the global food system.

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