Key Takeaways
- Fairville Farming Co. and NRGene Canada have launched FairGene, a joint venture operating a dedicated black soldier fly (BSF) egg production facility in Bassano, Alberta.
- The facility began producing BSF eggs in recent weeks with positive initial results, using NRGene Canada's MaxBSF™ genetics platform.
- Compared with industry-standard lines, MaxBSF™ has shown higher larval density and weight and a shorter time to harvest, generating up to 2.1 times more output.
- NRGene Canada's neonate delivery system currently ships up to 1 million one-day-old larvae per container, with capacity expected to reach 2.5 million by the end of 2026.
- MaxBSF™ genetics are currently available only through the FairGene facility, and the partners are exploring a future BSF rearing facility to serve as a hub-and-spoke demonstration center.
Fairville and NRGene Canada Launch FairGene BSF Egg Facility in Alberta
NRGene Canada and Fairville Farming Co. have announced the launch of FairGene, a joint venture established to operate a dedicated black soldier fly (BSF) egg production facility in Bassano, Alberta. In the last few weeks, the facility has begun producing BSF eggs, with positive initial results, and is designed to supply BSF producers worldwide with reliable egg production using NRGene Canada's MaxBSF™ genetics.
BSF production is gaining momentum as insect producers scale up sustainable protein, oil, and frass production. Reliable egg supply has become a critical foundation for consistency and performance.
MaxBSF™ Genetics Aim to Improve Production Economics
NRGene Canada's MaxBSF™ genetics improve BSF production economics through shorter production cycles, improved bioconversion, and consistent growth. Significant production improvements using MaxBSF™ have been observed by leading BSF producers on their own insect farms and using their own feed recipes. Compared with industry-standard lines, MaxBSF™ has shown higher larval density and weight and a shorter time to harvest, resulting in up to 2.1 times more output, and allowing producers to generate more biomass per cycle within the same infrastructure.
NRGene Canada has also demonstrated a neonate delivery system that ships high-quality, one-day-old larvae directly to producers. The system currently supports up to 1 million neonates per container, with capacity expected to reach 2.5 million by the end of 2026, and provides a two-week shelf life from hatching. This gives producers a dependable, ready-to-rear starting point without the need for on-site egg incubation.
“From the beginning, we saw genetics as critical to building a reliable BSF egg production operation,” said William Wipf, Secretary at Fairville Farming Co. “NRGene Canada brought the genetics platform and expertise we were looking for, and through FairGene we're turning that shared vision into a dedicated facility here in Alberta.”
“FairGene is an important step in bringing our MaxBSF™ genetics into dedicated egg production,” said Yossi Levi, CBO at NRGene Canada. “Together with Fairville's agricultural experience and production capabilities, we're creating a practical platform to support BSF producers worldwide with reliable, genetics-based egg supply.”
What's Next for the Alberta Facility
FairGene combines Fairville's agricultural production experience with NRGene Canada's BSF genetics and breeding capabilities to meet the industry's need for reliable, genetics-based egg supply. MaxBSF™ is currently available only through the FairGene facility, which is already working to expand capacity and access for commercial producers as demand grows. The Bassano facility marks an important commercial step for NRGene Canada's BSF activity and for Fairville's expansion into insect agriculture. Looking ahead, the partners are exploring a BSF rearing facility to support NRGene Canada's hub-and-spoke model and serve as a demonstration center for scaling insect production.
