{"id":112911,"date":"2026-04-29T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T07:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greyb.com\/?p=112911"},"modified":"2026-05-04T16:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T10:36:25","slug":"flybox-scouted-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greyb.com\/blog\/flybox-scouted-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"This Startup is Making Protein from Food Waste And Insects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UNEP\u2019s 2024 Food Waste Index<\/a> estimates that 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted in 2022, equal to 19% of food available to consumers. Food loss and waste also contribute an estimated 8\u201310% of global greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, organic waste remains a major source of methane when it decomposes in landfills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, animal feed producers are looking for alternatives to fishmeal and soy that can lower pressure on marine and agricultural resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if these problems could be solved with a single solution?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flybox<\/a> is solving these challenges by treating insect farming less like a protein startup and more like a waste management technology. Its modular systems use insects to bioconvert organic waste into larval protein and fertilizer, giving waste managers a route to recover value from rejected organics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand how they are doing it, we spoke to Larry Kotch, CEO and Co-Founder of Flybox. This article contains notable highlights from our entire conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n

Also Read:<\/h4>
\"Ocean<\/div>
How Black Soldier Flies Are Saving Oceans From Overfishing?<\/a><\/div>Read Post <\/i><\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/div>
This startup uses black soldier flies to cut farm emissions.<\/a><\/div>Read Post <\/i><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This interview is part of our exclusive Scouted By GreyB series. Here, we speak with the founders of innovative startups to understand how their solutions address critical industry challenges and help ensure compliance with industry and government regulations. (Know more about startups scouted by GreyB!)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI predict every single insect farm in Europe that’s built today, above 10 tons a day will fail within the next five years.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Larry Kotch<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\"Larry<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Larry Kotch<\/a> is the CEO and Co-founder of Flybox. His route into the sector began with an academic interest in environmental governance and waste policy in South Africa, where a dissertation on early insect operations led him toward the potential of insects in organic waste treatment. Before returning to this field, he built a software agency and a seven-figure B2B technology agency business across the UK and Europe, giving him a strong foundation in scaling technical businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Flybox, Kotch has helped move the company beyond conventional \u201cinsect farming\u201d toward Insect Waste Management, focusing on practical systems built around waste contracts, logistics, feedstock supply, juvenile larvae, and end-product market access. Under his leadership, Flybox secured grants and private funding and built operations across markets, including the UK, Kenya, and the UAE.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Flybox is making insect waste management modular<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flybox is an insect waste management technology company that helps waste managers and large food waste producers treat organic waste using black soldier flies. Its approach fits a growing black soldier fly market<\/a> driven by demand for sustainable protein, organic waste management, and biofertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company specializes in the engineering side of insect farming. It has helped build insect waste management projects for customers ranging from large waste management companies to farmers in rural Kenya. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Larry, Flybox currently has seven operational farms and has been involved in around 20 projects in one form or another.<\/p>\n\n\n

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