Using robots collaborating with insects to decentralise waste management

Olympia Yarger

Founder & CEO at Goterra

More about Olympia »
Employees 21–50
Headquarters Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Goterra imagined a world where automation and biology work in tandem to solve complex challenges like managing waste and creating feed security. They then built robots filled with maggots that process food waste, becoming the first company to deploy and commercialise such a solution, redefining waste management. But why? Existing waste management solutions struggle to adapt in a changing world where sustainability is a key focus, scaling waste disposal has become crucial, and the transportation of waste is more than 50% of the total waste management costs. Their soil produces both high protein stock feed (insect meal) and nutritious soil conditioner (frass), and the modular unit allows the waste to be processed close to where it’s created without haulage and trucking costs.

Notable Achievements

  • Designed, prototyped and commercialised an autonomous system 1.5 years.
  • Raised A$8M in Series A funding, led by Grok Ventures and Tenacious Ventures.
  • Upscaling from managing 10 tonnes to 45,000 tonnes of food waste per week in 2021.

Currently Operating in One Region

Press Mentions

September 19, 2024

Top two: Agili8 and Goterra create history as joint winners of Most Innovative Startup

Read on Startup Daily »

August 27, 2024

Six Australian companies make Forbes Asia's '100 to Watch' list

Read on Forbes Australia »

August 27, 2024

Six Australian companies make Forbes Asia’s ‘100 to Watch’ list

Read on PressNewsAgency »

August 6, 2024

Hyatt Regency Sydney adds insects to waste management system  

Read on Waste Management Review »

June 24, 2024

Maggots to make a meal of Sydney food waste - Inside Local Government

Read on Inside Local Government »

June 21, 2024

NSW first trial uses insects to transform food waste

Read on TOORAK TIMES »

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