New Insektlabel Biotech facilities: a key step in their growth

In recent years, the foodtech industry has experienced significant growth due to several factors. One of them is the shift in consumer preferences towards healthier, more sustainable and personalised food. Another important factor is people's growing awareness of sustainability and the environmental impact of food production.

The foodtech industry has long been driving the development of more sustainable solutions, such as vertical farming, cell-based food production and the use of food by-products, among others. Insektlabel Biotech is part of this growth and change in the food industry, which is why they asked us to collaborate on the design and construction of their new facility. On one hand, this production plant had to meet the growing demand for producing new alternatives for the food industry, and on the other, allow Insektlabel Biotech to continue refining its R&D. This new space will help the startup produce protein flour from the Tenebrio molitor insect, and continue developing other business lines.

"What do these new Lezama facilities mean for you? These facilities have allowed us, on one hand, to meet all the applicable regulatory requirements, and on the other, to scale, test and optimise our production model, incorporating quality and safety protocols from the very start of the chain. In short, it is an important step in our development.

What will this facility improve in your production process?

Control and safety throughout the entire process, from insect production to their transformation. This facility lets us control every critical point of the process from the start, including key parameters such as temperature, humidity and air quality in the insect production areas, minimising the associated risks and resulting in a safe, high-quality final product.

What are your business goals for 2023?

Bringing this new facility to full capacity, continuing to develop and research in various strategic fields for the company, and establishing collaborations with companies in the food sector.

What do you think is the biggest problem facing the food industry today?

Protein scarcity is a major problem currently facing the food industry. Protein has traditionally come from animal sources such as meat, dairy and eggs. However, the growth of the world population and rising demand for protein have raised concerns about the ability to meet these needs.

Another major problem is sustainability. Large-scale food production has had significant environmental impacts, such as deforestation, soil degradation, water scarcity and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, food waste is another worrying issue, as a large amount of food is estimated to be wasted throughout the supply chain, from production to final consumption.

At Insekt Label , we champion the sustainable production of quality protein from the Tenebrio molitor insect, whose production has a very low environmental impact, including a strongly circular component, as we feed them with plant by-products from the food industry."