European biotech company scores €9.5 million in financial backing from European investments
Polish Insect Protein Producer Secures Funding for Sustainable Pet Food Production
Proteine Resources, a Polish insect protein producer based in Masłomiąca, has secured €9.5 million in financing from the European Innovation Council Accelerator. The company employs artificial intelligence (AI) technology to optimize insect farming processes and utilizes by-products from the mushroom industry as a substrate for insect rearing.
This innovative approach allows Proteine Resources to produce sustainable pet food while significantly reducing waste disposal costs for mushroom growers. The company takes the residual biomass or by-products generated during mushroom cultivation—which are otherwise waste—and uses these as feed for insects. By converting mushroom industry by-products into insect biomass, they contribute to a circular economy model, lowering environmental impact and the cost of waste management for mushroom farmers.
The insect protein derived from this process is then formulated into pet food, providing a high-protein alternative that supports sustainability goals in animal nutrition. Insect farming requires far less water and land compared to conventional animal protein sources, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally friendly protein.
Proteine Resources' protein-rich products are said to enhance animal health by supporting the digestive system and boosting immunity. The company's closed-loop system is designed to use 100% of agricultural inputs for production, further emphasizing its commitment to sustainability.
This funding will be used to build an insect protein factory driven by artificial intelligence, expanding Proteine Resources' production capacity and contributing to the growing market for sustainable pet food. In Europe, the annual sales of pet food products stood at €29.2 billion in 2023, with a production volume of around 9.1 million tonnes. With almost half of all European households owning at least one pet, the demand for high-quality, sustainable pet food is on the rise.
While the European Pet Food Federation (FEDIAF) published a report last month about pet food sales and production, it did not mention any funding or financing for Proteine Resources or Protix, another alternative protein producer. However, Protix formed a joint venture with US meatpacking giant Tyson Foods to build an insect plant in the US.
As the demand for sustainable protein sources continues to grow, companies like Proteine Resources are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions that address both environmental concerns and the need for high-quality, nutritious animal feed. With the support of the European Innovation Council Accelerator, Proteine Resources is poised to make a significant impact in the pet food industry and contribute to a more sustainable future for animal nutrition.
[1] [Source for the environmental benefits of insect farming] [3] [Source for the growing demand for environmentally friendly protein] [4] [Source for the use of AI in insect farming]
- The development finance secured by Proteine Resources will not only augment their production capacity, but also enable a larger social impact, as the company's sustainable pet food production contributes to decreasing environmental degradation and supporting a more sustainable future for animal nutrition.
- Amidst the rise in the demand for environmentally friendly protein, the financial inclusion of innovative companies like Proteine Resources through development finance, such as from the European Innovation Council Accelerator, plays a pivotal role in fostering science-driven technology advancements, like AI-optimized insect farming, that drive sustainable development.
- The integration of technology, such as AI, assistance in the sector of development finance, notably in backing companies like Proteine Resources, not only supports financial inclusion but also sparks innovation in industries, in this case animal nutrition and sustainable pet food production, ultimately leading to advancements in science and finance as well.
