India-based insect company, Loopworm, has secured the EU TRACES certification for its silkworm pupae-derived products for both pet and animal nutrition. With approval number CAPEXIL/SR/PAC/ABP-PET/2425/402, Loopworm is now fully authorized to supply its ingredients to the European Union market.
This milestone positions Loopworm, which operates a GMP+, ISO 22000, and HACCP-certified facility with a capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes per year, as a key player in the EU market for protein sources. The certification process, facilitated by the expert guidance of DGFT officials, AQCS Bangalore, and CAPEXIL Chennai, was completed efficiently within just a few months.
Co-founder and CEO, Ankit Alok Bagaria, said that “receiving the EU TRACES certification is a significant milestone validating our commitment to quality and compliance to international standards. Europe is an exceptional market for sustainable, high-quality ingredients, and we are eager to meet the growing demand for sustainable nutrition in pet and animal feed."
Since the commercial launch of Loopworm’s LoopFactory in April 2024, the company has already been supplying multiple truckloads of its protein and fat products monthly, primarily to the Asian aquaculture market. These products have showed significant benefits in shrimp feed, particularly in improving feed palatability and growth rates.
Loopworm's silkworm pupae are leaf-fed, and reared in ambient, climate-friendly conditions. The resulting products are nutrient-dense, featuring proteins (65%) rich in essential amino acids like methionine, lysine, threonine, and arginine, along with vital trace minerals like selenium, and fats containing 35% omega-3, 6% omega-6, and 25% omega-9 fatty acids, plus natural vitamin E, phospholipids, and sterols.
Beyond its current offerings, Loopworm is working on expanding its portfolio to include insect-derived palatants, flavor enhancers, and functional products, which are already pilot-scale optimized. One promising area of exploration is the application of silkworm-derived biomolecules in anti-diabetic and anti-obesity formulations for pets.
Furthermore, Loopworm’s R&D team is developing a novel recombinant protein platform to produce high-value animal therapeutics, biologicals, and diagnostics at a fraction of the cost. This groundbreaking technology aims to revolutionize the production of complex biomolecules.
"We are thrilled to enter the European market and are already in discussions with multiple pet food companies eager to integrate our products into their formulations. While we’re here to learn from our customers, we’re equally committed to educating them about the unique benefits of our sustainable products,” Ankit concluded.
Find more information about Loopworm products for aquaculture in its recent article in Aquafeed Magazine.
