The Norwegian company Pronofa will be Norway's largest industrial investment to date in new sustainable proteins for feed production. Construction of a larger pilot plant for insect production will be established during the year in close collaboration with Denofa. The goal is an annual production of 50,000 tons of insect larvae by 2025. In addition, the company is working with several alternative marine protein sources.
“This will be Norway's largest investment in sustainable alternative proteins. The demand for more protein raw materials is great, and here we have both the history and the industrial expertise to scale up more Norwegian sustainable protein raw materials in addition to those we already have today. The testing is underway, the site is ready and the building plans approved. We are going up on a large scale as soon as possible,” said Hans Petter Olsen, CEO of Denofa and board member of Pronofa.
Starting with insects
Pronofa will develop new nutritional ingredients for the feed and food industry, proteins and fatty acids, from local, sustainable sources. Pronofa is planning production on an industrial scale during 2022. The company has already acquired the insect producer Flying Feed, which has been researching and developing high-protein products for a long time.
“This is a circular economy in practice. From compost and biowaste, we can produce a high-value product that agriculture and the aquaculture industry need. Insect production globally is already large and about to skyrocket. It is time we take this up on an industrial scale,” said Olsen.
In addition to insect production, Pronofa tests tunics (small mollusks grown in sea plantations) and other marine protein sources. The goal is a broad protein portfolio.
The company
Behind the investment are Denofa and a number of well-known investors including Convexa AS (Bjørge Gretland), Haakon Sæter, Canica AS and Macama AS. As part of the plan, the company is planning a listing on Euronext Growth.
The new company originates from Denofa, which has more than 100 years of history from oil and protein production at Øra in Fredrikstad. Denofa currently has an annual production of 420,000 tons based on certified deforestation and GMO-free soy. Pronofa will build on Denofa's industrial expertise, and work closely with NMBU and others to develop new products.
Pronofa is already in close dialogue with major agricultural players regarding feed development and feeding experiments.
