Protix to explore South Korean insect facility with €1 million backing

“In South Korea, two important factors come together: the regulations are more favorable and the food waste infrastructure is highly advanced,” the company said.

Vanessa Hart, CFRO at Invest International, and Stijn Harms, Director of Projects & Technology at Protix. Credits: Invest international

March 27, 2025

Invest International is supporting Dutch insect protein company Protix with a EUR 1 million development loan to explore the feasibility of building, together with local partners, a circular insect protein facility in South Korea.

South Korea is a country with one of the world’s most advanced food waste management systems. Every day, over 15,000 tons of food waste is collected and processed — not just from households but also from restaurants, supermarkets, and food service companies. Unlike in the EU, where the use of these food waste streams as insect feed is not yet permitted (due to regulatory restrictions), South Korea’s regulations allow food waste from these commercial sources to be safely converted into insect feed.

“In South Korea, two important factors come together: the regulations are more favorable and the food waste infrastructure is highly advanced. The country places great importance on making full use of all the valuable nutrients that enter the country, which is why they have developed such a well-organized food waste management system, which makes it a great match for Protix,” said Stijn Harms, director of Projects & Technology of Protix.

Through a partnership with leading local partners, Protix plans to build a new facility capable of upcycling up to 130,000 tons of food waste annually. This facility, twice the size of Protix’s current site in the Netherlands, would transform food waste streams and agri-food byproducts into sustainable protein, oil, and fertilizer, helping build a more circular food system.

Expanding innovative technologies like insect-based protein production into new markets doesn’t just require technical expertise — it also demands significant upfront investment. For Protix’s South Korea expansion, these early-stage costs include feasibility studies, legal groundwork, and technical design.

That’s where Invest International comes in. Through its Development Accelerator, Invest International provided a EUR 1 million conditional development loan, helping Protix fund this critical feasibility phase.