Western Australia's first edible cricket farm has been given the green light to sell its product for human consumption.

Crickets have long been flagged around the world as the future of food, gaining popularity in countries such as Vietnam, Canada and America, but Australia has been relatively slow to the game.

Up until now just one other edible-cricket farm, based in Sydney, has been in operation.

But now a south-west start-up company, Grubs Up, is also in the game, producing crickets for protein powder and eyeing off bar snacks and condiments down the track.

The business venture has been a long time in the making for founder Paula Pownall, who quit her job in 2015 to focus solely on the research and development of the cricket business.

Ms Pownall said she was excited to finally be able to sell the crickets to consumers.

"It means that we can actually sell that product and really upscale our business and production on a commercial level," she said.

No space needed

Inside the cricket farm it is hard to believe it could be the future of protein farming.

Thousands of crickets live inside what are essentially re-fitted laundry tubs, stacked on top of each other.

Ms Pownall said the operation was perfect for her as she did not have a large property, so she needed something that she could 'vertical farm'.

She said it was also sustainable.

"We go from hatching to harvest within six to eight weeks and within that time we have pretty much a zero waste system," she said.

"So we use recycled food waste, fruit and vegetable scraps and within that six to eight weeks we also turn their manure into fertiliser."

She said on top of that the crickets used barely any water — 400 millilitres per 1,000 crickets over the course of their lifespan.

Appealing to fitness market

Trainers such as James Trenow think there is a good market for cricket protein powder. ( ABC Local: Anthony Pancia )

Ms Pownall admitted convincing Australians to stomach a mouthful of crunchy crickets could be difficult.

So she said she was grinding down the product and selling it in the form of a powder, making use of the high concentrate of protein in crickets.

"Most proteins on the market are actually only 30 per cent, cricket powder is actually 69 per cent protein," she said.

"And not only that it's full of amino acids, folate and really high in vitamin B12."

Those in the health and fitness industry, such as personal trainer James Trenow, say there is big demand for sustainable products.

"Whey protein is the one that's being predominately used at the moment, but people are moving towards more sustainable proteins like plant-based protein and maybe even cricket protein as well," he said.

"The general reaction is that people are a bit grossed out by it, but maybe later down the track people will be more open to that sort of protein source."

Gimmick condiments, including cricket salt and pepper, and cricket dukkha were also in Ms Pownall's sights.

Animal feed also an option

Coming from an agricultural background Ms Pownall said she also hoped to get into the animal feed business down the track, working with other cricket breeders who produce crickets for animal feed purposes to commercialise the product.

Ms Pownall says crickets could also supplement traditional feeds for farm animals, including pigs. ( ABC Local: Anthony Pancia )

"Given that I'm from an agricultural background I really think there's value in commercialising this animal feed system so if there was another 300 cricket farms in Australia that would really get me excited."

Now that approvals have been secured it is all about expansion for Grubs Up.

What is currently six plastic tubs in her backyard shed will soon become 1,000 purpose-built containers in a large warehouse in Malaga.

Ms Pownall said while the support and interest in her business was overwhelming it was important to remember it was just in start-up stage.

She said time and upscaling would indicate whether or not it is financially viable on a large scale.