Finland to open country’s first circular insect protein production plant
Ingredient supplier Volare is expected to produce 5,000 tons of insect protein and lipids.
The manufacturing plant will consume close to 30% less power as Volare uses its own “unique” technology to operate the unit.
“We produce high-quality protein and lipids from the side streams of food production, and this has an extremely positive impact on the environment. With the new facility, we will be able to respond to the growing demand for climate-friendly protein in Europe,” said Volare’s CEO Tuure Parviainen.
Once in operation, the facility will produce up to 5,000 tons of insect-based protein and fats each year. The company has plans to build similar plants in other European countries.
The new facility will be in Järvenpää, roughly 40km from Helsinki.
Who is Volare?
Volare is an offshoot of Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre and claims to have found an “ultra-efficient” method to sustain nutrients in pet feed with the help of the black soldier fly (BSF).
It uses food industry side streams such as the inedible parts of grains from mills, potato peels, and stale bread, and adds BSF larvae to turn them into protein and fats in “just a few weeks.”
The company supplies its insect-based protein to bird and dog food manufacturers, which it says is also suitable for animal and fish feeds.
In 2022, Volare partnered with pet food retailer Alvar Pet for dog treats and Lemmikki’s Leo & Wolf brand supplying insect-based bird seed bars.
The start-up invested €1 million in food development technology in 2021 after raising €700,000 from venture capitalist Maki.vc and receiving €450,000 from Business Finland. Volare’s pilot plant was set up in Hyvinkää, Finland.