Podcast: Insect Farming & Robotics
Insect Farming & Robotics: How Maggots and Automation Are Tackling the Global Food Waste Crisis
Imagine a shipping container filled with millions of maggots, quietly munching through tonnes of food waste every day, turning what would otherwise rot in a landfill into valuable protein and fertiliser. This isn’t science fiction, it’s the reality of GOTERRA, an Australian agritech company led by Olympia Yarger, the self-proclaimed “Maggot Lady” and 2023 ACT Australian of the Year.
In this episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, host Lucy Lin sits down with Olympia to unpack how insect farming and robotics are revolutionising waste management, supporting the circular economy, and addressing a trillion-dollar global food security crisis.
The Problem: Food Waste and Climate Change
By 2050, the world is projected to face a 20% shortfall in food production, yet a third of all food produced is still wasted. This staggering inefficiency isn’t just an economic issue - it’s an environmental one. When food waste ends up in a landfill, it decomposes and releases methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, behind only China and the United States.
The Solution: Maggots Meet Robotics
Olympia Yarger, originally a traditional farmer, found herself drawn to the potential of insects, specifically maggots, to solve these problems. She realised that while maggots could efficiently convert food waste into protein and fertiliser, the real challenge was logistics: collecting and transporting food waste to feed the insects was costly and impractical.
Her solution? Bring the maggots to the waste.
GOTERRA’s automated shipping containers house millions of maggots, powered by robotics and AI. These “insect farms” process food waste directly at the source, whether that’s a city tower block, a hospital, or a supermarket. The maggots eat through the waste, converting it into high-value products: protein-rich insect meal for animal feed and nutrient-dense fertiliser for agriculture.
The Tech Behind the Transformation
GOTERRA’s technology is a blend of hardware, software, and biology. The system regulates heat, humidity, and airflow to create an ideal environment for the maggots, while automation ensures efficient feeding and waste management. AI and vision systems help identify contamination and optimise operations, making the process more autonomous and scalable.
Each container can process up to 1.7 tonnes of food waste per day. Out of this, 25% becomes fertiliser (“frass”) and 8% becomes insect protein, closing the loop on waste and creating new opportunities for sustainable agriculture.
The Challenges: Scaling Deep Tech and Community Impact
Innovating in waste management is not for the faint of heart. Unlike software startups, where mistakes can be quietly fixed, errors in deep tech like GOTERRA can be messy and highly visible - think maggots on the ceiling or an unexpected odour. Olympia emphasises the importance of transparency, resilience, and community engagement, as the company’s license to operate depends on maintaining public trust.
Leadership, Resilience, and the Power of Being Outspoken
Olympia’s journey from farmer to tech founder is a testament to the power of determination and the willingness to challenge the status quo. She shares candid insights into the realities of being a female founder in deep tech, including the challenges of fundraising and the importance of direct leadership.
“Conflict is an engagement, and it is okay to have an engagement that involves conflicting opinions. If you’re shying away from conflict-driven conversations in a technology startup, you guys are drinking your own bathwater… you should all just go the hell home,” Olympia says, highlighting the need for healthy debate and authentic leadership.
A Call to Action: Reduce Plastic, Embrace Circular Solutions
When asked about her number sustainability or circular economy tip, Olympia offers a simple but powerful piece of advice: reduce plastic in your life. “The best way to stop is through consumer choices. Stop plastic,” she urges, reminding us that individual actions can drive collective change.
Why This Matters
GOTERRA’s story is more than just a clever use of technology - it’s a blueprint for how we can rethink waste, food security, and sustainability. By combining insects, robotics, and a relentless drive to solve real-world problems, Olympia Yarger and her team are showing that the future of food waste is not just about disposal, but about regeneration.
Listen and Learn
To hear the full conversation with Olympia Yarger, including her insights on innovation, resilience, and the importance of speaking up, listen to the latest episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked. Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, curious about the future of food, or just love a great story about unconventional problem-solving, this episode is not to be missed.
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