Indian insect player secures permit to export to Europe

As a black soldier fly (BSF) ingredient producer for animal feed and pet food, Arthro Biotech has secured a 2-year export permit under the EU TRACES certification, the European Union’s sanitary and phytosanitary requirement for animal product imports. This allows the company to ship its supplies to Europe and other international markets.

“Our TRACES registration ensures product traceability, serving as a mark of quality,” comments Dr. Praveen K. Sappa, Founder and CEO of Arthro Biotech. 

Last year, Malaysian insect player Veolia Bioconversion gained an EU TRACES digital certification to import insect protein products into the European Union.

Competitive operations

Founded in 2023, Arthro Biotech currently produces 30 tons of animal feed ingredients per month at its pilot-scale facility in Hyderabad, a city in the south-central region of India. 

While it supplies small volumes to a few Indian pet care companies, it primarily targets international pet food manufacturers due to the relatively low and inconsistent local demand for insect protein. 

Scaling production

The startup’s long-term goal is to reach an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of protein by 2030.

As part of its expansion plans, the company is looking to sign a contract with a raw material supplier in central India to build a 5,000-ton-per-year facility near the source. 

The increased production capacity is also expected to support the startup’s partnerships with aquafeed companies for “long-term, high-volume contracts.”