How Volare plans to scale insect protein with a new facility

Finnish biotech startup Volare announced in May that it had closed a €26 million ($29M) funding round for its industrial-scale insect protein production facility, Volare 01, located in Pori, approximately 240 km from Helsinki.

GlobalPETS has learned that 60% of the capital, €15 million ($17.4M), will be allocated to the construction of the facility. The remaining funds will support the company’s broader operations and ongoing investment in research and development (R&D).

“We will build the facility in an existing facility, which brings down the investment cost,” states Volare’s CEO, Jarna Hyvönen.

The new site will scale up Volare’s proprietary insect protein technology to produce a fishmeal alternative, developed in partnership with Norwegian aquafeed firm Skretting.

Volare claims it is set to become the world’s most efficient protein production plant. The site will be located on a brownfield site, i.e., previously developed land, and will incorporate technology that reduces processing energy use by 30% and hygienization energy use by 50%.

In 2023, the company announced the opening of Finland’s first circular insect protein production plant.

Production target

Once operational, the facility is expected to produce a protein output equivalent to 200 million Baltic herrings annually – approximately 18% of Finland’s total commercial fish catch in protein terms.

“This is the most efficient way to produce protein, combining low-value raw materials, nature’s own bioreactor, and proprietary ultra-efficient technology – a combination that’s hard to beat. The result is a process with emissions significantly lower than conventional alternatives, up to 4-8 times lower than soy,” says Hyvönen.

Volare is also piloting insect-fed rainbow trout in Finland through a 150,000 kg collaboration with local partners, including Alltech Fennoaqua, Kalankasvatus Vääräniemi and Kalavapriikki.

Dry processing method

The new production plant will incorporate the company’s dry processing method, which the company’s CEO describes as cost-efficient, fossil-free and gentle on proteins. It will also feature the company’s proprietary reproduction technology, which enables rapid scaling and highly space-efficient operations.

“Our R&D work has always been focused on robustness as well as cost-effectiveness and sustainability – and we’ve been able to incorporate learnings from the first-generation insect protein companies effectively,” says Hyvönen.

Volare is actively forming partnerships across other market segments, with a strategic focus on the European market.

“Our protein meal has already been in several pet food products for three years – for instance, Vafo’s brand Dagsmark has our protein meal in 2 of their wet cat foods. Pet foods are definitely an interesting segment for us going forward, too,” concludes the firm’s CEO.

Sustainability and food security

This move is also part of Volare’s broader ambition to enhance food security and mitigate environmental impact in response to increasing supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions and price volatility.

The company states that the European Union is only 34% self-sufficient in protein concentrates that contain more than 30% protein. The European Commission has identified this as a major dependency on imports.

Founded by research scientists at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Volare specializes in waste management solutions for the agribusiness sector. The company is known for its work on the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), often described as “nature’s most efficient bioreactor.”