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MCE

Mealworm-Powered Circular Innovation for Plastic Conversion, Organic Fertilizer, and Carbon Reduction

Specialization

Mealworm Bioconversion
Plastic Waste Decomposition
Insect-Based Humic Fertilizer

Keywords

Mealworm
Styrofoam Decomposition

Humic Acid Fertilizer

MCE develops a mealworm-powered green-bio platform that converts plastic waste into useful circular resources.
The platform uses mealworms, microbes, and enzymes to decompose EPS and convert it into humic fertilizer and carbon-reduction value.
MCE’s solution addresses three problems through one platform: plastic waste, chemical fertilizer emissions, and livestock-related carbon emissions.
The company develops products and technologies for plastic decomposition, organic fertilizer, carbon credit generation, and future culture media ingredients for cultivated meat.

(1) Owned Technology

(2) Applied Products

Feedblock
- Patented styrofoam decomposition solution.
- Designed to maximize mealworm survival and EPS degradation efficiency.
MaHa Organic Fertilizer
- Mealworm frass-based humic acid fertilizer.
- Applied to organic agriculture, home gardening, and high-value crops.
MaHa Green Dragon
- Premium fertilizer for high-value crops and fruits.
Culture Media Ingredient
- Mealworm protein-derived amino acid platform for microbial cultivation and cultivated meat media.
- Planned availability in 2026.
CO₂ Tracker
- Monitoring system for temperature, humidity, CO₂ release, and carbon reduction management.

(1) Problem Definition / Development Background

Global plastic waste and EPS pollution continue to accumulate, with styrofoam taking hundreds of years to decompose.
Chemical fertilizer use generates significant carbon emissions and environmental burden.
Livestock production contributes large-scale greenhouse gas emissions, creating demand for alternative protein and cultivated meat inputs.
Existing recycling and fertilizer systems need low-carbon, circular, and biologically driven alternatives.

(2) Value Proposition / Solution

MCE converts EPS waste into mealworm-based resources through a biological decomposition platform.
The process creates fertilizer and carbon reduction value while reducing dependence on landfill, incineration, and chemical fertilizers.
MaHa fertilizer supports crop growth while reducing carbon emissions compared with conventional fertilizer production.
The platform can expand from waste treatment and agriculture into cultivated meat media and local carbon credit generation.

Integrated Circular Platform: Solves plastic waste, fertilizer emissions, and alternative protein needs through one mealworm-based system.
High Styrofoam Conversion: Feedblock shows 92% styrofoam-to-fertilizer conversion rate and 97% mealworm survival rate.
Carbon Reduction: Claims up to 96.28% CO₂ reduction in styrofoam conversion and up to 98.69% reduction compared with conventional fertilizer production.
Field-Tested Fertilizer: Overseas PoC showed durian height growth up to 66% and leaf growth up to 22.3%.
Validated Crop Effects: Chrysanthemum test showed up to 40% increase in number of blooms.
Factory Readiness: Korean pilot factory has annual capacity for Feedblock, mealworm protein, and humic acid production.

Developed patented Feedblock styrofoam decomposition solution.
Holds patents related to mealworm frass-based humic fertilizer and styrofoam decomposition.
Operates a Korean pilot factory with total area of 1,322㎡.
Pilot factory capacity includes:
- Feedblock: 29.2 tons per year
- Mealworm protein: 50 tons per year
- Humic acid: 1,200 tons per year
8 tons of mealworm larvae can consume approximately 80 kg of EPS per day, equivalent to 29.2 tons per year.
Carbon reduction model certified by Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute under the Ministry of Environment.

(1) PoC Progress

Conducted overseas PoC tests for MaHa Green Dragon fertilizer on durian and leafy vegetables.
Durian test showed height growth up to 66% and leaf growth up to 22.3%.
Leafy vegetable test compared MaHa with local humic fertilizers and showed strong visual performance.
Chrysanthemum test was conducted with Kongju National University in 2025

(2) Global Expansion

Target customers include fertilizer manufacturers, commercial farms, carbon credit partners, artificial meat companies, distributors, and retailers.
Phase 1 focuses on PoC and joint R&D in fertilizers, carbon reduction, and cultivated meat.
Phase 2 expands into B2B and B2C channels for fertilizer, carbon credit, and culture media markets.
MCE aims to build local carbon credit generation models through EPS recycling, mealworm farming, optimized fertilizer production, and chemical fertilizer substitution.