Insect producer Innovafeed inaugurated the extension of its Nesle production site in the Hauts-de-France region in the presence of Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition and Territories, and many public and private representatives of the regional and national economic ecosystem.
The inauguration of the extension of the Nesle site marks a milestone in the industrialization and scaling-up phase of the company’s proprietary technology. Innovafeed's "Tech for Impact" being deployed at the Nesle site includes 10,000 sensors specific to insect rearing that measure, control and optimize parameters, such as temperature and humidity at all times, collect more than 20,000 eggs per second, and leverages AI to predict production operations and thus better control them.
In addition to this technological performance, Innovafeed's black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) guarantees high protein content and beneficial properties for animal health. Recent studies conducted by the company showed that by including 7.5% of its protein in the feed, shrimp growth is improved by more than 25% and mortality is reduced by more than 20%.
By choosing the Hauts-de-France region, Innovafeed has also contributed to revitalizing the local economic ecosystem. Thanks to the support of public and private actors, 220 direct jobs and 650 indirect jobs have been created by Innovafeed on its sites in Nesle and Gouzeaucourt. Out of Innovafeed's 350 employees, 200 are dedicated to the development of technology and know-how at its sites.
Innovafeed's technology is already being used internationally. In January 2023, Innovafeeed, alongside its partner and industrial shareholder ADM, has begun to lay the groundwork for the implementation of its circular model next to ADM’s plant and headquarters in Decatur, Illinois, the largest American agricultural site of its kind. This expansion, which will also deploy Innovafeed's unique industrial symbiosis model, is a further demonstration of confidence and ambition for the industry.
“This day marks an important milestone for Innovafeed and our entire team. Thanks to our breakthrough technology and the active support of our public and private partners, we are creating a French sector of excellence in the territories, that illustrates the transition already underway toward a low-carbon industry to meet the challenges of climate change and sovereignty,” said Clément Ray, co-founder and CEO of Innovafeed.
