Proteine Resources receives €1.36 million investment for insect biotechnology
The company currently focuses on the animal feed industry but aims to use the capital raise to scale its protein production technology to expand into the human health sector.
“The application of insect protein is wide and continually opens new perspectives," Bartłomiej Roszkowski, Co-CEO at Proteine Resources, told Nutraingredients. "Already now, it can revolutionize the animal feed industry.”
He noted that there is growing awareness within the industry that insects provide a balanced, sustainable and ecological source of animal protein.
The insects are antibiotic-free, raised in controlled environments and fed on healthy plant diets, making them a genuine "BIO food" and the "protein of the new millennium," according to Roszkowski.
The goal is to create insect-based ingredients for use in nutritional products, nutraceuticals and processed foods.
“Insects are an excellently balanced, dietary, and ecological source of animal protein, which, thanks to our commitment to the highest quality standards, will allow the company, in the longer term, to direct its production to the food industry,” Roszkowski said.
Scaleable innovation
Investors SMOK Ventures and Bitspiration Booster VC see significant scalability potential in Proteine Resources' model and recognize the market opportunity driven by climate awareness.
To address sustainable global protein demands, Proteine Resources spent six years identifying suitable insect species and optimizing feed formulations to meet their production goals.
They use an AI-driven system to monitor environmental conditions, insect health and their protein and nutrient content. Detailed information is passed to a central management system where algorithms based on artificial intelligence make adjustments to optimize quality and production.
Proteine Resources notes that this leads to higher efficiency, consistent product quality and rapid scalability.
The company’s vision is to offer technologically advanced, autonomous farm modules, providing the knowledge, technology and cost efficiency needed to succeed.
Insect protein benefits and risks
Proteine Resources said that its insect meal is competitive to fish meal in terms of quality and cost, improving farm animal welfare and eliminating the need for antibiotics.
The company uses insect feces by-products as a natural fertilizer that, due to its high chitin content, also acts as a natural pesticide.
A 2023 systematic review that analyzed nine human randomized controlled trials suggests that insect protein is an adequate human protein source with promising health benefits. Humans may absorb different amino acids from insects and meat and similar amino acids to soy protein, but levels may peak later with insect protein.
However, in the regulatory space, there are concerns about cross-reactivity between insect allergens and known allergens such as shrimp and house dust mites, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that that consuming insect proteins may potentially lead to allergic reactions.
Although more research is needed, the EU has so far authorized lesser mealworms, house crickets, yellow mealworms and migratory locusts as novel foods.
