Oberland Agriscience

Oberland Agriscience Inc., from a financial analyst's perspective, is a growth-stage enterprise in the sustainable protein sector, strategically positioned to capitalize on the increasing demand for environmentally friendly animal feed and agricultural inputs. Founded in 2017 by Dr. Greg Wanger, the company leverages a unique background in science and environmental microbiology. Dr. Wanger's experience includes a five-year tenure at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, contributing to the SHERLOC optical organics mapper that landed on Mars. This scientific rigor is applied to the company's core operations.

The company's business model is centered on a circular economy, upcycling pre-consumer food and beverage byproducts, such as spent brewery grains, to feed Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL). This proprietary process transforms organic waste into high-value protein ingredients and other products. Revenue is generated through the sale of these products to a diverse client base that includes the aquaculture, pet food, poultry feed, and agriculture industries. The company operates on a B2B basis, supplying these sectors with nutrient-rich inputs, and also has a direct-to-consumer channel for live larvae under the brand Obie's Worms.

Oberland's primary products include dried BSFL protein powder, live larvae, and frass, a type of insect manure that serves as a natural fertilizer. The protein powder, containing 50-55% protein by weight, is a key ingredient for animal feed manufacturers seeking sustainable alternatives. A significant milestone was the opening of a 108,000-square-foot commercial production facility near Halifax, Nova Scotia, in late 2024. This facility is engineered to process 36,000 tons of organic waste annually, producing approximately 3,500 tons of protein and 9,000 tons of frass. The operation is highly automated, utilizing AI, robotics, and predictive analytics to optimize efficiency. The company's expansion has been supported by non-dilutive financing, including a term loan from Peritus Capital for equipment acquisition and working capital, and funding from Divert NS.

Keywords: insect protein, black soldier fly larvae, agritech, circular economy, sustainable animal feed, aquaculture feed, pet food ingredients, frass fertilizer, waste upcycling, food waste reduction, environmental microbiology, sustainable agriculture, protein alternatives, zero-waste production, animal nutrition, soil health, BSFL, biotechnology, greentech, Halifax