In this episode of the Black Soldier Fly Leaders podcast, host David Tavernor interviews Tommy Hooft, co-founder of Marula Proteen, a company focused on waste valorisation through the use of Black Soldier Fly larvae. Tommy shares his journey from studying business to establishing a sustainable agricultural model in East Africa, emphasising the importance of composting organic waste, particularly coffee pulp, to create extra special fertiliser that they call "Super-Charged Frass". The conversation explores the nutritional benefits of their frass, the company's growth strategy, funding challenges, and the significance of complementary skills in founding teams. Tommy also reflects on industry insights, lessons learned from both successful and failed ventures, and the potential for carbon neutrality in the coffee industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Marula Protein and Black Soldier Fly Industry

02:45 The Journey of Tommy Hooft and Marula Protein

05:42 Innovative Waste Management with Black Soldier Fly

08:20 The Circular Economy in Coffee Production

10:50 Nutritional Benefits of Frass and Larvae

13:49 Growth Strategy and Expansion Plans

16:34 Financing and Sustainability Challenges

25:09 The Founding Story: Meeting Philip

27:23 Complementary Skills in Business

30:59 The Role of Science and Entomology

36:37 Industry Innovations and Challenges

41:18 Lessons from Industry Successes and Failures