Maltento - WWF

Investing in Impact

P4G has awarded the partnership with approximately US $320,000 in grant funding. 

Today, 80% of the world’s soybean crop and 25% of global fish catches are used for animal feed, contributing to deforestation, overfishing and rising carbon emissions. Traditional feed sources such as soy and fishmeal place increasing pressure on natural ecosystems. 

Maltento, a South African startup, offers a BSFL-based alternative designed to complement existing feed solutions. Unlike many insect protein companies that focus on bulk protein and oil, Maltento specializes in high-value additives that can be incorporated into a wide range of pet food, aquaculture and livestock feed. These additives provide key benefits for animals, including enhanced gut health, improved digestion, stronger immunity and overall well-being. By delivering these nutritional advantages, Maltento’s approach aims to support healthier animal growth while also increasing market accessibility for sustainable feed solutions. 

During the partnership period, Maltento will work towards strengthening its operations and increasing its readiness for scaling and investment. Key areas of focus include identifying and addressing production inefficiencies, securing international certifications to meet industry standards, expanding market engagement through outreach initiatives, website updates and social media presence, and developing relationships with suppliers and customers. 

To improve its operational workflows, Maltento has updated and formalized standard operating procedures (SOPs) for plant hygiene, handling practices and production reliability. The startup also procured a new oil press to expand future capacity. Certification efforts have continued with Maltento renewing its South Africa export license, a key enabler for global entry. As part of the renewal, the startup included new products on the license and made strides towards the general food safety compliance needed for international certifications such as ISO, BRC, FSSC and others. 

Maltento has made health and safety upgrades including bird proofing and hygiene airlocks. The startup is also continuing to test and refine new products including grub butter and insect-based gravy for pet treats. These operational and product preparation activities contribute to the startup’s investment readiness. WWF South Africa, a leading organization in biodiversity conservation and climate action, will support the measurement and verification of Maltento’s impact. WWF will also help facilitate connections with key industry and regulatory stakeholders to assist Maltento on its investment-readiness journey. This includes navigating South Africa’s regulatory landscape, specifically air emissions and waste management standards. 

Maltento also participated in the 2025 P4G Vietnam Summit, Zoo 2025 in Italy, and the Big Pitch 2025 investment platform, all of which served to boost the startup’s visibility among global and regional investment investors. 

Over the next 18 months, Maltento hopes to secure more than US $3 million in commercial funding, increase year-on-year revenue growth from 116% to 158%, create around 27 new jobs, and help reduce approximately 1,200 metric tonnes of carbon emissions. 

The partnership comprises the following partners: Maltento (lead business partner); WWF South Africa (lead administrative partner).