CARBON TURNAROUND in alliance with its Peruvian partners Gaia Recycle and the NGO Prisma was selected by AECID, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development, to present a detailed project proposal for a first insect protein pilot plant for organic waste management in Peru.

CARBON TURNAROUND is happy to announce that AECID, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development selected our proposed insect protein project as worthy to pass the first round in the ongoing selection process for subsidies related to innovation projects aiming to improve the sustainability performance of SME companies in Peru. This selection process is part of the European Union funding programs for sustainable development in developing nations and will identify next month a couple month identify R&D projects for different industrial sectors with high innovative and sustainability impact in Peru.

Together with its local partners Gaia Recycle and PRISMA, a ground-breaking pilot project for organic waste management of cacao pod residues has been developed and will make a meaningful contribution to improve the competitive situation of Peruvian cacao farmers, while at the same time solving several environmental problems. 70% of the cacao fruit is waste, and so far, little use for this waste stream has been found. The disposal of this residue on illegal dump sites is globally a serious environmental problem due to released methane emissions, contamination of ground water as well as the loss of nutrients. The proposed solution consists in the transformation of these residues into valuable insect protein and insect oil, which can be used as animal feed, as well as in the production of a high-value organic fertilizer which can be used on the cacao plantations. This solution can increase the income of cacao farmers by giving them access to another saleable product which they can sell, and this solution can also provide them with a fertilizer which will improve the soil health in their plantations by increasing the humus content. This solution will close the nutrient cycle and will be a meaningful contribution to a circular economy in the fast-growing Peruvian cacao industry.