In this project, we explored and developed a product system to extract edible food products from insects as an alternative food source.
Josh White & Uma Freitag & Christian Buckendorf | 6 Week Project
Problem Statement: Create a regenerative insect-based food production system.
Hermetia illucens
12–18 Days
To harvest prepupae
Diverse feeding
3–4 Days
Moisture dependent
14–18 Days
Heavy feeding and growth
7–14 Days
Stops eating, seeks a dry place, metamorphosis
5–8 Days
No feeding, only reproduction
Black Soldier Fly Life Cycle
[Graphics, Josh White]
DIY FarmingDIY farming is accessible but unpredictable.Manual processes limit scalability and consistency.
Industrial FarmingIndustrial farming is efficient but expensive.High automation increases setup cost and complexity.
OpportunityDesign a compact system that blends DIY simplicity with industrial reliability.
The Enclave breeds black soldier flies in a closed loop. Eggs hatch into larvae in the feed tray, move up the harvesting ramps as prepupae and are separated by the harvester; a tenth are kept to repopulate under the grow light. The harvest is washed, blanched and dehydrated, and the frass-rich soil feeds the crops that feed the larvae.
Stacks of cardboard act as a repository for BSF eggs.
Filled with clean soil and food. Water administered through humidity control.
Prepupae seek areas of low moisture to molt. Harvesting ramps allow movement out.
Pupae enter the harvester. Rotation divides the batch 9:1 [Harvested : Repopulators].
Grow lights simulate natural sunlight, triggering the adult flies to repopulate.
Soil from the feed tray is filled with frass waste and rich in nutrients.
Frass-rich soil can be used as plant fertiliser, feeding crops.
Fertiliser helps grow leafy green crops like lettuce: high in moisture, quick to grow and easily digestible.
Crops can be harvested and fed back to the black soldier fly larvae, closing the nutrient loop.
Removes dirt and impurities. Water is recycled from the collection drum through an activated carbon filter.
Water is boiled in the collection drum, sanitising the prepupae and halting biological activity.
Blanched BSF are dehydrated with a controlled silicone rubber heater. The food product is now shelf-ready.
Dehydrated pupae are ready to be processed or eaten. Package and store in an airtight container; freeze for long-term storage.
To Feed Tray
[Graphic, Josh White & Uma Freitag]
Heating Pad
Power Supply
Grow Lights
Fans
Filters
Outcome Enclave is a proof of concept, shown through research, CAD, system graphics and renders. We didn't build a functional prototype because of the complexity of the setup. The next step would be putting the research into practice: testing the theorised mechanisms for insect incubation, the user experience, the sensors and the sorting system.