Finalist of the Energy, Water & Food category, AgriProtein helps provide sustainable protein to the world, while reducing waste-to-landfill, and mitigating greenhouse gases. AgriProteins bioconversion process takes organic waste from food factories, supermarkets, farms, and restaurants, which would otherwise go to landfill and result in the generation of methane, an important greenhouse gas. The company recycles organic waste using proprietary insect rearing technologies and know-how. Their facilities can be constructed wherever there is an organic waste problem, which is a global issue. We spoke to David Drew, Founding Partner and Managing Director about his start-up and experience at SET 18. Read more on them here: www.agriprotein.com
David, what motivated you to start the company?
Rising food prices and the effect that it has on those on or close to the hunger line, as well as global geopolitical unrest. We remain passionate about curbing food price inflation through reducing the input in the manufacturing of food.
What was the process for coming up with your product/innovation?
There was no lightbulb moment, just a neat solution, carefully planned to address a simple problem… The doubling of fishmeal prices and the effect of over-fishing on our oceans ability to carry on supplying our growing population with the good fish we all like to eat.
What do you love about the sector you work in?
I love that we are at the edge of biotech, in an agricultural industry that has been low on big change and innovation while so much has taken off in the last decade in the digital space. I love that we create jobs and that every dollar we earn helps protect our oceans and bring better nutrition to our planet.
What keeps you up at night?
Expansion, pushing our good cause, and profitably into the mainstream is my primary worry.
How did you find your overall SET experience and what was your favorite part?
It was great on so many levels, but for me my favorite experiences are always the inspirational people I meet and the new contacts we make.
Any big news or updates for your start-up recently?
We have agreed our largest round of funding to date and are just planning around the three new international factory builds that this will allow.
What do you think your start-up will look like in three years?
I hope to see all the fantastic faces I work with still there and a whole load more great colleagues alongside us. We will also be through mainstream proof of industrialization and head down toward rapid new territory expansion.
