By Tabitha Caswell for Bioenterprise Canada
Based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Infinite Harvest Technologies (IHT) is transforming the way agricultural waste is upcycled into valuable products. Co-founded by Luis Ortiz and Tamara Lockwood, the company leverages its modular insect bio-digestion technology to create a new value chain, converting waste into sustainable products like high-density proteins and soil amendments.
The company’s recent progress in advancing its innovative Bugs4RentTM system is attributed in part to Bioenterprise Canada’s Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub (GOAH), funded by the Governments of Canada and Ontario through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Turning Waste into Value
IHT was founded with a mission to offer a smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional waste disposal methods like anaerobic digestion, composting, landfilling, and land application. Its insect-based technology efficiently converts food and agricultural waste into high-value outputs, such as animal proteins, FrassilizerTM, and other useful by-products.
“Our vision is to create ‘infinite harvests’ through circular economy innovation, using insects to upcycle plant and animal by-products into measurable value. We want to help food and agriculture producers and processors turn waste into opportunity,” says Lockwood.
This model benefits the bottom line while also supporting broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals across the value chain.
“Our decentralized, modular, and automated system reduces waste management costs, minimizes environmental impact, and opens new revenue streams,” Lockwood explains. “By eliminating transport and tipping fees, we’re advancing a circular economy in agriculture—one that’s profitable, traceable, and sustainable.”
Scaling with Support
Through GOAH, the IHT team received strategic mentorship from Bioenterprise Innovation Advisor Mike Williams, a consumer-packaged goods specialist with a focus on pet foods. His guidance helped the company refine its market approach and commercialization strategies, especially for entering the pet food market.
“The insights, resources, and connections from Mike and The Engine team have been invaluable,” says Lockwood. “They’ve helped us navigate the agriculture innovation ecosystem and refine our product-market fit. Mike has been integral in advising us on market size, trends, and distribution requirements for feed and farm stores.”
A key development was the initiation of lab analysis services, supported by GOAH, that enabled IHT to establish a relationship with Lambton College’s Bio-Industrial Process Research Centre. This analysis compared the nutritional profiles of oil extracted from larvae fed different waste types and, together with analyses done at the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Feed Research Centre, provides critical data for determining regulatory pathways for high-quality animal feed ingredients.
“While this analysis is just a small step, it’s a crucial part of achieving Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) registration and our first revenue,” says Lockwood.
With a successful pre-seed funding round completed, IHT is scaling up operations and preparing to enter new markets. The company is focused on expanding its footprint in both waste processing and sustainable feed, using its proprietary technology to drive a more sustainable, global agri-food system.
Supporting Ontario’s Agri-Food Strategy
Infinite Harvest Technologies’ mission supports OMAFA’s Grow Ontario strategy, aimed at increasing innovation in the agri-food sector, enhancing competitiveness, and strengthening the food supply chain.
Their mobile insect bio-digesters help reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and generate valuable by-products, contributing to a circular agri-food economy. With its innovative approach, IHT is helping ensure a more sustainable, efficient food supply for Ontario and beyond.
The Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub and Bioenterprise Canada are supported by the Governments of Canada and Ontario through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a 5-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Learn more about Bioenterprise Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine.
Learn more about the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).