Agroloop’s €30 million high-tech factory marks a milestone in the insect protein industry
Hungarian Agroloop Hungary Ltd. has officially opened its 13,000 square metre feed protein production facility on the outskirts of Budapest. With an investment of €30 million, this is the first industrial-scale insect protein processing plant in Hungary dedicated to feed production. The company aims to establish industrial-scale insect farming in the Central and Eastern European region and position itself among global industry leaders in the long term.
During “peak season” 1.8 billion insect larvae grow in a closed system
The feed protein company has reached a new milestone: four years after its foundation, on 13 December 2024, it officially opened its 13,000 square metre automated plant.
Here, 120 tonnes of feed material per day from by-products of various domestic food producers will be delivered to the larvae, which will then grow to 1,8 billion in around 36,000 crates during the “peak period”. The processing plant will produce 250 tonnes of high-quality protein meal, 50 tonnes of feed fat and 900 tonnes of organic fertiliser per month from around 150 million larvae per day. Operations are carried out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, almost every day of the year. The factory, which currently employs 35 people, has also been fitted with a state-of-the-art air purification system to ensure that no unpleasant odours are emitted outside the facility.
The plant is unique in the industry not only because it is the largest alternative feed protein plant in Central Europe, but also because it is the first to introduce a revolutionary supply chain model, outsourcing the insect farming process. This is the result of a collaboration between Agroloop and FreezeM Ltd. of Israel and Germany, a leading innovator in black soldier fly breeding technologies. Under the partnership, FreezeM, with decades of experience in large-scale insect breeding, will provide weekly support in the propagation and supply of black soldier fly larvae from its breeding centre in Germany.
“We firmly believe that the insect industry must be part of the solution to ecological problems, as we can offer a sustainable, alternative source of protein for livestock and pets. We are providing them with a natural resource for the future. By opening this plant, we are not only aiming to meet the growing global demand, but also to establish industrial-scale insect farming in the Central and Eastern European region and to become a world leader in the long term”, said Rajmond Percze, co-founder and CEO of Agroloop, in his speech at the opening ceremony.
€30 million investment
Since its establishment in 2020, Agroloop has raised millions of euros in funding from venture capital firms and strategic partners, including Eprolius Hungary Plc. and Gran Private Equity, the leading Hungarian venture capital firm, as well as the Blue Planet Venture Capital Funds and the Enter Tomorrow Venture Capital Fund represented by Lead Ventures Fund Management. Additionally, UniCredit Group, supported by the European Investment Fund (EIF), has facilitated financing for the agri-tech company under a framework guarantee agreement.
Among the company’s contracted partners, one of the leading companies in the regional feed market, UBM, another Hungarian company, plays a key role as a strategic partner in supporting the introduction and supply of insect-based products to the livestock feed market.
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Péter Bittner
Influence Media
