NESLE, FRANCE — Insect producer Innovafeed announced the completion of its third phase of expansion on its facility in Nesle. According to Innovafeed, the expansion enables it to ramp up production capacity. 

The first phase of expansion on the Nesle facility originally began in 2020 and the second phase began in 2023. These phases focused in on technological risks, allowing Innovafeed to stabilize its technology and ramp up production scale. This third expansion phase will now allow the insect producer to reach its targeted production capacity and profitability. 

The expansion increases the facility’s total floor size to 55,000 square meters (about 592,015 square feet), as well as increases the company’s larval production capacity fivefold. Additionally, the expansion enhances Innovafeed’s insect rearing conditions through the implementation of automated and optimized production. With the completion of this expansion, the Nesle site is now the world’s largest insect production site, according to Innovafeed.

Founded in 2016, Innovafeed has been gathering investments, establishing partnerships and growing its sustainable insect ingredient business to provide sustainable ingredients for use in pet food, animal feed, aquaculture and agriculture. In February 2024, the company launched Hilucia™, a line of sustainable pet food ingredients made from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). 

To create its sustainable, insect-based ingredients, Innovafeed leverages a symbiosis model, ensuring the production of nutritious proteins for animals while also reducing environmental impact. According to Innovafeed, its BSFL ingredients tout a low carbon footprint with an 80% reduction in carbon emissions compared to other insect production models. 

The expansion in Nesle follows the company’s inauguration of its North American Insect Innovation Center (NAIIC) in Decatur, Ill. Additionally, the company has partnered with agro-industry leaders ADM and Cargill, and has secured more than €1 billion ($1.09 billion USD) in contracts. 

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