Lessons
BSF production
Follow the connected stages that turn prepared organic material into harvested larvae and residual material. Each stage affects the next, so a change in material preparation can alter heat, moisture, larval growth, separation and product quality. The lessons cover the full process, performance measurement, bottlenecks and pilot planning.
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Course introduction
An introduction to the course content and the sequence of lessons.
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Overview of the production
The full sequence from material preparation through breeding, nursing, rearing, harvest and post-processing.
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Breeding
The basics of breeding BSF.
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Nursing
The basics of nursing eggs to five-day-old larvae.
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Rearing
The basics of rearing, from the nursing output to the harvest stage.
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Pre- and post-processing
The basics of preparing material and processing outputs, from equipment to methods.
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Critical success factors
The factors that decide whether production performs as planned.
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Production metrics
The measurements to log and analyse during production.
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Analysing production efficiency
How to use the metrics to compare batches and see where the process stands.
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Identifying and solving bottlenecks
The most likely bottlenecks and ways to work through them.
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Lessons learned from BSF farming
A recorded session of practical lessons from operating experience.
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Overview of processes and tasks
A recorded walkthrough of the tasks across the production process.
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Outdoor production and climatised modules
How the two approaches differ in control, output and operating requirements.
Watch the lesson video: Outdoor production and climatised modules
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Critical metrics and how to calculate them
A recorded session on the measurements that show whether production is on track.
Watch the lesson video: Critical metrics and how to calculate them
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Developing a growing recipe
How a substrate recipe is built and adjusted for consistent larval growth.
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Post-processing options at starting scale
Equipment and method options for processing outputs in a first facility.
Watch the lesson video: Post-processing options at starting scale
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Questions on pre- and post-processing equipment
A recorded Q&A on equipment choices and schemes at starting scale.
Watch the lesson video: Questions on pre- and post-processing equipment
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Pilot farm course introduction
What the pilot-farm part of the course covers.
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Main factors in building a pilot farm
The factors to consider when planning and building a first pilot.
Watch the lesson video: Main factors in building a pilot farm
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Building a climatised pilot module
The pros and cons compared with outdoor growing and how to keep the build sensible.
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Pre- and post-processing at pilot scale
How to plan and build processing at pilot scale.
Watch the lesson video: Pre- and post-processing at pilot scale
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Starting production and piloting
The critical steps for starting production and running the pilot.
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Options to scale beyond piloting
The options available after a successful pilot.
Using the material
Measure the actual material
Conversion and yield depend on the stream, recipe, operating window and measurement method. Published ranges and planning references are not promises of facility performance.
A useful pilot defines the calculation method first, records each batch consistently and tests the assumptions that matter to the intended site.
Keep exploring
Related topics and pages
Ask about production
Plan the evidence a facility needs
Manna can help define trials, operating measurements and the practical steps from a promising result to a facility plan.