Goterra enters voluntary administration after funding push falls short

Goterra Pty Ltd, the Canberra-based ag-tech business known for using black soldier fly larvae and automated modular infrastructure to process food waste into animal feed and fertiliser inputs, has entered voluntary administration.

Daniel Walley and Martin Ford of Teneo were appointed voluntary administrators on 5 June 2026, following a funding shortfall at the company, which had sought further capital to scale its waste-processing operations and service commercial demand.

According to its website, Goterra was founded by Olympia Yarger and built its business around container-sized, temperature-controlled processing units that use larvae to consume food waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill. The company has promoted the technology as a lower-emissions alternative to traditional organic waste disposal, with outputs including protein-rich larvae for animal feed and frass for use as fertiliser.

The company attracted early support from climate, agriculture and impact investors, including a $1.2 million seed round in 2018 backed by Grok Ventures, Rampersand, Giant Leap and the CAGES Foundation, followed by an $8 million Series A round in 2020 led by Tenacious Ventures. Its reported customer base has included Melbourne Airport, the City of Sydney, Woolworths, Hyatt Regency Darling Harbour and Lendlease’s Barangaroo precinct.

A representative for Goterra said that the company had working technology, contracted customers and operating licences, but was unable to secure the investment required to continue scaling. The administrators are expected to explore options for the business, including a potential going concern sale.