His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially opened the world\'s largest insect farm at Protix in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands on June 11, 2019. The occasion was marked by a deal with Skretting that could see up to 5.5 million salmon servings per year brought to market with insect meal incorporated into the feed.
The guests experienced a tour of the new Protix facility, housing insects that convert vegetable residual flows into sustainable protein, contributing to a future-proof, circular bioeconomy. The cultivation process takes place in a controlled environment and is highly automated with sensor and data systems, robots and climate control.
“This opening marks a real transformation for the entire insect industry, not just for Protix,” said Kees Aarts, founder and CEO of Protix. “This nursery is unique in the Netherlands, Europe and the world. We are delighted that companies like Skretting are enabling the growing sector of insect protein.”
Skretting has shown considerable commitment to the development of novel ingredients in recent years, including significant investment in R&D. “It is essential for us that these new ingredients are not only safe and sustainable, but also ensure that the end product maintains the nutritional benefits we have come to expect from high quality seafood,” says Bowyer. “The aquaculture industry is very large and growing, and it is essential for us to see novel ingredients brought to commercial scale. We at Skretting support Protix in their developments and we look forward to working with more players in this field.”
"We are very honored to have welcomed King Willem-Alexander and minister Schouten in honor of the opening of the largest insect farm in the world and our ten-year anniversary. This is of course an important milestone for Protix. The opening of our new facility signifies a real transformation, not only for our company, but for the entire sector and markets; the transition from prototype to a mature and commercial sector," said Aarts.
He continued: “We are proud to have been able to bring our innovation to maturity in the Netherlands. This opening is the springboard to move our products and technology across borders and build our leadership in this industry around the world. A 'Global Technology with Local Impact' aligns our vision to achieve a global food system in balance with nature. It was also a great celebration for all our customers, partners and employees. A memory for life.”
