There are a number of reasons why insects are a great addition to your pet's diet:

a) Hypoallergenic: edible insects have hypoallergenic qualities meaning your pet's antibodies do not react to the exogenous antigens (which would result in an allergic reaction). Black soldier fly protein sources are great alternatives for pets with allergies to beef, lamb or pork. They also contain a number of fatty acids which are beneficial for gastrointestinal health.

b) Bioavailability: Digestion and absorption of black soldier fly larvae can be higher than traditional protein sources. As an example, research has demonstrated copper, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and calcium sourced from edible insects is more readily available for absorption than the same nutrients in beef.

c) Nutritional profile: black soldier fly larvae have a complete nutrient profile which is beneficial for dogs. High in protein they contain all essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins such as zinc, copper and magnesium.

d) Palatability: Dogs readily consume the black soldier fly. Our products have been formulated to ensure maximum palatability making them irresistible to dogs!

The black soldier fly larvae used in BuggyBix are sourced from Australian farmers. The products are subject to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), stringent quality assurance processes and periodic lab testing. 

There are a number of compelling reasons to use insects as an alternative or complementary food source. When compared to traditionally farmed meat proteins, insects are capable of providing a comparable (if not more beneficial) nutritional profile for pets at a lower financial and environmental cost. More specifically these benefits include:

a) Nutritional content: Independent nutritional analyses of black soldier fly larvae indicate they have a complete nutritional profile with balanced amino acid content, essential fatty acids, vitamins & minerals.

b) No bi-products: The whole insect can be consumed so there is minimal waste in the production process.

c) Low environmental impact and sustainable production: Insects have a favourable environmental footprint when compared to traditional farming. This includes water, land, energy consumption and feed. For instance, per kg of protein, black soldier fly larvae require ~4m2 of land (vs ~51m2 for poultry), produce significantly lower levels of greenhouse gases (~6kg of CO2 vs ~33kg for poultry) and require ~5m3 of water of which is sourced from their feed (vs ~34m3 for poultry).

d) Efficiency: Insects are very efficient in converting feed into protein and are not pestiferous. When compared to current livestock farming, they require significantly less resources to grow comparable yields. As an example, within 15 days 1g of black soldier fly eggs grows into ~2.4 kilograms of larvae protein.

e) Functional properties: the protein structure of the black soldier fly larvae is able to withstand high temperatures, significant pressure and torsional movements. This makes them very suitable for use in existing manufacturing techniques such as extrusion.