Netherlands-based insect producer Protix has received a firm commitment for funding totaling EUR45 million (US$50 million) from various sources to develop new products tailored to aquaculture feeds.
Key for the investors – which include Aqua-Spark, Rabobank, BOM and private firms – is the potential of insect protein as a sustainable feed ingredient for the fish farming sector, and of aquaculture to provide nourishing protein with a low environmental impact to a growing world population.
Founded in 2009 by Kees Aarts and Tarique Arsiwalla, Protix has developed methods to cultivate insects using a range of waste food products, and now does so commercially, supplying its products to the animal feed sector in 12 countries. It is also developing applications for human food. The firm will use the investment to expand production, as well as to extend its R&D capabilities and expand into new applications for its products.
Aqua-Spark founders Mike Velings and Amy Novogratz explained their participation in the cooperation as a key channel to make aquafeeds more sustainably. Rabobank has supported Protix from its founding.
Sustainability drives interest in insect protein
Interest in feeding insects to farm livestock and pets has been growing in recent years, driven by the search for increased sustainability. Consumer attitudes and regulatory issues have prevented the potential of these novel ingredients from being fully exploited, but there are signs of change in these areas, and the inclusion of insects in animal feeds could soon become more common.
This year, Protix and Swiss-based food and feed manufacturing equipment supplier Bühler jointly founded a new venture, Bühler Insect Technology Solutions, to accelerate the standardization and rollout of insect rearing and processing equipment worldwide.
