Mighty Cricket, an urban cricket farm, awarded federal grant in St. Louis
As a key component of its urban farm, Mighty Cricket plans to use pre-consumer food waste that occurs during food production as a feed for its crickets in an effort to minimize the amount of discarded food thrown into landfills.
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The local cricket farm that Mighty Cricket plans to launch will be an indoor facility that will allow the startup to use its own crickets to develop its products. Schlafly said the company currently works directly with cricket farmers to source the protein it uses. The startup’s own farm will give it greater control over its product’s flavor profile and provide an opportunity to use automation in its farming operations to reduce costs, Schlafly said. Mighty Cricket is interested in using several technologies in its farming operations, including computer tracking technology measuring the health of its crickets; sensors that can help optimize air quality at the farm; and artificial intelligence software for detection of any illnesses affecting the crickets.
Mighty Cricket plans to rent existing space in downtown St. Louis or North City for its pilot farm, Schlafly said. It expects to launch the project on a small scale, with its farm being roughly 2,000 square feet in size at the outset.
“After we test out our pilot farm, then we’ll look at what key features are missing and do we need to build our own building or can we convert one of these abandoned buildings in St. Louis in a farming operation,” Schlafly said.
