The present disclosure relates to a cleaning system for cleaning living insects, in particular living insect larvae or living worms, comprising a collecting device for receiving and mixing the insects or worms with water to form a mixture, a first conveying device for conveying the mixture out of the collecting device and a first larvae-separating device for separating the insects or worms from the water from the mixture conveyed by the first conveying device. The separated water is available for further use in the cleaning system, in particular the water is at least partially recirculated in an insect facility, in particular in the cleaning system.

A vermiculture unit comprises structural elements defining an interior fillable with organic substance and through which worms for converting the organic substance to environmentally compatible products migrate; a perforated surface for supporting the organic substance; and fixed walls extending upwardly from the perforated surface to a void area located below an uppermost edge of the structural elements, removal of worms from the interior that is below the void area being prevented by the fixed walls. An extractor is insertable into the interior via the void area, for extracting from the interior, solidified organic substance to which the worms have upwardly migrated, allowing grown worms to be separated from the extracted organic substance and collected. In one embodiment, the extractor is an openwork drawer member. In another embodiment, the structural elements are used for vermicomposting while an inclined surface receives worm processed byproducts downwardly discharged through the perforated surface.

Devices and methods are disclosed for the containment and culture of worms, and the preparation of composts, vermicomposts, and castings from organic and inorganic wastes.

In the invention the growing surface of an apparatus for growing invertebrates is increased by a body or bodies (202) located in a growing chamber (201). When food is added to the growing chamber it is spread over at least some of the surfaces of bodies and the inner wall (203) of the growing chamber. This means that the area where invertebrates can grow is increased. The body or bodies are movable with respect to the inner wall of the growing chamber. This allows mixing the added food and other compounds in the growing chamber and it keeps air routes between bodies open.

A method and system for breeding insects, using a plurality of individual crates, wherein at least a portion of each crate is filled with a substrate, containing feed stock, and immature phases of insects. Also provided is a climate area housing the crates that has an aeration system. A conveyor system is included in the system for retrieving crates from the climate area and for returning same thereto. An observation system for obtaining observations, including data and measurements, and downstream thereof a feedstock supply station are arranged along the conveyor system. The method includes steps of aerating the substrate and the immature phases of insects with the aeration system, when in the climate area; periodically retrieving at least one individual crate of the plurality of crates by the conveyor system from the climate area and passing it to the observation system; obtaining an observation of the substrate and the immature phases of insects in the at least one retrieved crate; and interpreting the observation of a retrieved individual crate and determining one of a requirement for adding an amount of supplementary feed stock, and a reason to withdraw the insects from further breeding for harvesting or discarding from further breeding. The method and system are further arranged for returning the retrieved individual crate to the climate area via the feedstock supply station, when a required amount of supplementary feedstock has been determined, and transferring the retrieved individual crate to one of an area for harvesting and an area for discarding, when a reason for withdrawal has been determined. The steps of the method are repeated for as long as at least one of the plurality of crates remains in the climate area.

A portable, climate-controlled, continuous flow-through, computer-operated vermiculture bioreactor and method for the treatment of organic solid wastes utilizing accelerated microbiological decomposition including composting and vermicomposting to convert materials into environmentally compatible products, including stable biofertilizer. The portable bioreactor design converts carbon-based organic waste into biofertilizer using thermophilic composting, vermicastings and vermicomposting that can be used directly for plant and farming applications.

The biological control of agricultural pests is growing rapidly due to the increasing trend towards healthier foodstuffs. The present invention is a response to this and aims to enhance productivity and optimize the entire biological control chain, from operations related to breeding, production, handling, and storage of organisms, as well as transportation, release, and field application. This reduces costs and increases efficiency in the sustainable management of pests, optimizing the quality and viability of biological crop protection products, which include but are not limited to chemical powders, minerals, microbiological agents, insects in the form of eggs, pupae and adults, earthworms, animal feed, seeds, or fruits. These products require specific climatic conditions, and their physical integrity must be maintained, minimizing stress and damage from production to release into the environment. To improve the operation of this system, the concept of using cartridges and refills has been developed.

The present invention is in the field of a high volume breeding and life cycle synchronization system for nematodes and a method for breeding such nematodes. An example of a nematode is Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). C. Elegans is a small, free-living soil nematode (roundworm) that lives in many parts of the world. It feeds mainly on microbes, primarily bacteria. C. Elegans is considered and used as an important model system for biological research in many fields including genomics, cell biology neuroscience and aging.

An Internet of Things (IoT) BIoTower for recycling food wastes into nutrients and for growing organic plants is disclosed which includes a food waste disposable tower for receiving food wastes; a multi-leveled carousels connected to the food waste disposable tower, each containing soils infested with earthworms; and an Internet of Things (IoT) irrigation system designed to provide sustainability to the soils and the organic plants.

Methods for causing, enhancing, and/or expediting consumption of an article by at least one biodegradative living organism are disclosed. The methods include the use of at least one additional living organism that enhances and/or expedites consumption of the article by the at least one biodegradative living organism.