BioMar, Innovafeed and Auchan have partnered on the large-scale integration of insect protein into commercial shrimp feed in Ecuador.
This milestone marks a turning point for the insect and aquaculture industries, demonstrating that insect protein is a viable part of the solution in responsible and resilient shrimp farming.
“This partnership is a defining moment not just for Innovafeed, but for the entire insect and aquaculture industries,” said Clément Ray, CEO and co-founder of Innovafeed and Elizaveta Le Floch, Innovafeed chief business officer, in a joint statement. “By combining our technology with BioMar’s aquafeed expertise and Auchan’s retail leadership, we’re proving that sustainable shrimp farming can be scaled, economically viable and consumer-ready.”
Insect meal is much more than a protein source; it contains functional nutrients such as antimicrobial peptides. Recent research from BioMar showed a unique functional benefit in shrimp feeds, making it possible to substitute it with a similarly valued ingredient currently in use.
This discovery offers insect meal a viable market entry position in shrimp feeds at its current market value. From there, it’s possible to scale insect meal and hopefully be market competitive in the protein ingredient segment in the future, but for now, it can play a vital role in the functional ingredient segment in aquafeeds.
“In BioMar, we believe in the sustainable future of the aquaculture industry and alternative ingredients like insect meal play a vital role in this,” said Henrik Aarestrup, vice president LATAM shrimp and hatchery, BioMar Group. “Working together with Auchan and Innovafeed, we have established a viable commercial model for insect meal. It was important to design a scalable model that leveraged the unique functional benefits of black soldier fly in shrimp diets. Any shrimp farmer purchasing BioMar feeds from Ecuador can leverage this commercial opportunity.”
As part of this industry-first initiative, Auchan, one of Europe’s leading retailers, will support the rollout by integrating shrimp raised on this next-generation feed into its responsible sourcing strategy and product offering.
“We are committed to responsible sourcing and see this partnership as a tangible step toward better food for our customers and the planet,” said Laurent Francony, group CSR executive director at Auchan Retail. “Supporting more sustainable aquaculture practices through our shrimp supply chains is perfectly aligned with our long-term vision.”
This tripartite commitment marks a significant leap toward scaling insect-based solutions as a cornerstone of tomorrow’s food system. It reflects the shared ambition of key players in aquaculture, agritechnology and retail to accelerate the shift toward a circular, resilient and low-impact protein model, reducing dependence on wild-caught fish and conventional agricultural resources, while upholding rigorous sustainability standards and promoting responsible shrimp farming.
