Our Mission
NextSource are a UK based startup focused on contributing to a circular economy and tackling UK waste. We recycle by-products from local businesses and use Black Soldier Fly Larvae to upcycle the nutrients. We're delighted to bring you high quality bird feed & natural fertiliser, sustainably produced and sustainably packaged. With our innovative agri-tech solution, we are committed to reducing UK waste and promoting sustainability. See below to find out more about our process and our journey.
Founded by Friends
We're a small team of two close friends who've known each other since school. Hannes has always been keen on the potential of insect protein and the potential it has for growing global concerns over food security.
Vertical Farming
Farming Black Soldier Fly Larvae is an incredibly space efficient process. Stackable trays allow for a vertical farming approach, up to 150x more space efficient than soybean cultivation.
Local Inputs
Essential to sustainable Black Soldier Fly farming is finding inputs produced locally. We are happily partnered with Oxford Flour Mill to recycle their wheat feed which comes as a result of making flour.
Rebellion Brewery
Alongside our wheat feed, we recycle spent brewers grains from Rebellion Brewery in Marlow. Rebellion are a popular brewery in our local area and were keen to help support our project!
Farming Process
Black Soldier Fly Larvae rapidly convert a wide variety of organic material. Within just 13 days, we turn local inputs into high quality bird feed and natural fertiliser.
Behind the Scenes
Working together to harvest our BSFL. Our process is hands-on and doesn't require automation, just managing the BSFL lifecycle in the simplest way possible.
Home Farm
We aerobically compost our frass on site. Transforming BSFL waste into nutrient dense fertiliser for your garden.
Expansion
We're continuously innovating and expanding. Funded by the Oxfordshire Rural England Prosperity Grant, our second unit is built creating space for additional output.
Founder - Hannes Hafstad
The idea had originally been to use insect protein in human consumption, but everyone told me that was gross. So the idea became to use insect protein in animal consumption, using far fewer resources and less space than traditional options. In pursuit of that, NextSource was born in my family garage.
Co-Founder - Ollie Ralphs
The appeal of growing bugs in a garage sized polytunnel was too great to turn down. Me and Hannes both lost interest in the routine of London life and wanted to start something that could make a difference. The idea that you could turn waste from the beer & flour industry into two sustainable products was a really interesting concept worth pursuing.
Present Day
Fast forward to 2026, we've moved from Hannes' garage to Home Farm, where we have two containers made by hand and an amazing concept that's taken a natural path of progression.
Our Story
Starting in Hannes's family garage, we've taken an organic path to grow the business. The idea stemmed from Hannes' early interest in using insect protein as a solution to growing global concerns over food security. Whilst bored in a corporate London 9-5, the first draft of a business plan was written looking to take advantage of a nascent UK Black Soldier Fly Larvae industry. Finding themselves in a similar boat, our Co-Founder, Ollie, took very little convincing when pitched the idea over the phone. With a background in Animal Nutrition and an interest in sustainability, we felt equipped to start the project and see what developed.
Fast forward to present day, we're happily based at Home Farm, Chalgrove, equipped with two self-made containers designed for rearing Black Soldier Fly Larvae. Our commitment to circularity and sustainability has allowed us to create key relationships with local suppliers. We recycle spent brewers grains from Rebellion Beer Co., Marlow and wheat feed from Oxford Flour Mill, Wantage. These inputs allow us to create high quality insect protein and natural fertiliser as a by-product of our process.
