In a world threatened by climate change and food crises, the search for sustainable food alternatives has become a priority. And in this field, the production of edible insects seems to be on the rise, as they are a food source with high nutritional properties and low ecological and economic impact.
Insectius is a biotechnological insect farm, a company dedicated to producing edible protein from mealworms raised following a circular production model “that is enhanced with technology,” explains its CEO, Raul Reyes. They have a farm in Sant Iscle de Vallalta where insects are raised that will be used to produce flour to make animal feed and food.
At the same time, they have developed their own AI software and automation robots to optimize cultivation processes, making them a “biotech farm.” This system “allows us to be more efficient when producing animals, reducing the time spent on each tray from 6 minutes to 40 seconds,” explains Reyes, who also highlights that through AI it is also easier and faster to detect possible pests.
Now, thanks to an investment round of 200,000 euros, Insectius has been able to take a step forward and also start processing insects. In this way, they not only produce insects, but also carry out the manufacturing process for the production of flour.
Insectius was one of the highest valued companies at the TecnoCampus and Economistes Ban Investment Day that was held last July in Mataró. On this day they were able to present their project and attracted the interest of several investors, thanks to whom they were able to raise 200,000 euros to continue developing their product.
With this investment, Insectius has been able to expand its activity with the freezing, drying and stabbing process that prepares the insects to convert them into the flour that will be used to make feed.
The company is dedicated to producing a type of insect called Tenebrio molitor, better known as the mealworm, the first insect authorized in Europe for human consumption since May 2021.
It is an organism that occupies minimal space and requires little water, which makes its production extremely sustainable and offers a wide range of applications.
All phases of Tenebrio are used, generating minimal impact and waste, since even its feces are used as natural organic fertilizer.
As explained in Insectius, insect protein is an ideal source of nutrients for monogastric animals such as pigs and chickens. They guarantee your well-being and ecological, organic and biodynamic livestock and agriculture.
The company also produces protein for feeding dogs and cats. Feeds based on this insect provide a hypoallergenic diet as it is a novel protein, with a perfect amino acid and fat profile for pets, and with much less environmental impact than other feeds.
