Paris-headquartered Ynsect signs two major agreements to establish production sites in the US and Mexico. These new agreements arrive in tandem with the firm’s flagship facility in France – the world's largest vertical insect farm – entering its commissioning phase.

 A certified B Corp company and world leader in the production of premium insect-based ingredients, Ynsect is now entering an accelerated phase of international development with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Ardent Mills for an industrial facility in the United States, and the signing of a joint development agreement with Corporativo Kosmos in Mexico. 

These agreements were signed just as Ynsect launched the world's largest insect farm in Amiens, France, with a height of 36m and a building surface area of 40,000m2. With the arrival of the first insects on site in recent weeks, the livestock’s growth phase has already started. The operation of the facility will be rolled out over the next few months, with each site's remaining workshops to be phased into operation, and the facility slated to eventually produce up to 200,000 tons of ingredients. 

Aside from this, Ynsect runs two production sites – one in Dole, France (commissioned in 2016) and one in the Netherlands (2017) – as well as a hatchery in Omaha, Nebraska.

Plans to build 10–15 insect farms worldwide by 2030

With Ynsect having already sold more than the capacity of the Amiens site in the coming years, taking on new projects is seen as key by the firm in order to match the growing demand from its customers. The strategy will also allow Ynsect to build on the momentum for its premium ingredients while fostering a positive impact on ecosystems. 

The partnership announcements in the United States and Mexico reflect Ynsect's development ambitions, with plans to build 10 to 15 farms worldwide by 2030, the firm said. Ynsect plans to expand its activities on all continents to help meet the challenge of feeding more than 8.5 billion people in a healthy and sustainable way by 2030.

Circular economy model based on vertical farms

In order to do this, Ynsect is focusing its developments within the heart of agricultural areas, in order to ensure easy access to the raw materials used to feed the insects, such as agricultural co-products from the cereal industry. The choice of these strategic locations, with close proximity to resources needed, reflects the company’s commitment to limit the impact of its activity on the environment, including CO2 emissions and water consumption. Using disruptive technology protected by more than 350 patents to raise its Buffalo and Molitor mealworms, Ynsect has adopted a circular economy model based on its highly-automated vertical farms, in order to create value chains aligned with the Paris COP21 Agreement +1.5°C scenario and with the EU Fit for 55 target.

Ardent Mills MoU to boost Ynsect’s production in the US

Through the agreement with Ardent Mills – the leading supplier of wheat flour in North America – Ynsect affirms its intention to expand its insect-based ingredient production activities in the United States. As part of this expansion, Ynsect will explore synergies with Ardent Mills, with the aim of starting the construction of a new site in 2023. This agreement follows the acquisition of Jord Producers, the group's first farm on US soil, in Nebraska in March 2022. 

"We have many synergies with Ÿnsect in the sense that both our companies are striving to help positively transform the way in which the world is fed,” remarked Angie Goldberg, Director of Development at Ardent Mills. “We are excited to explore sustainable food and ingredient production opportunities with Ynsect, which has unique expertise in producing insect-based ingredients.”

According to CEO and Co-founder, Antoine Hubert, Ynsect wants to help reinvent the global food system with a focus on sustainability. “That's why we are very excited about this agreement with Ardent Mills, the leading North American milling company,” he told Food & Beverage Networker. “This marks the beginning of potential exciting collaborations between two key players in the global food industry,” he added.

This agreement comes at a symbolic time as France’s President Emanuel Macron undertakes his second State visit to the US to meet with President Biden, for an encounter focused on the industry, space and climate. Antoine Hubert was part of the official delegation, and was able to highlight the benefits of Ynsect 's technologies for the reindustrialisation and food sovereignty of France, Europe and the United States, while respecting planetary limits.

 

Tie-up with Corporativo Kosmos for first Mexico site

Ynsect and Corporativo Kosmos, a leading provider of food and general services in Mexico, have also just signed a joint development agreement to establish and operate a first insect farm in Mexico, with construction also aiming to start before the end of 2023. The agreement marks the culmination of a year-long collaboration between these two key players in the global food industry. Mexico is the leading country in the world in terms of human consumption of insects and insect-based proteins. In addition, the planned insect farm will bring Ynsect closer to the United States – by far the largest future market for insect proteins.

"We are particularly pleased with our continued collaboration with Ynsect, a company that has developed unique expertise in insect production,” remarked says Jack Landsmanas, President of Corporativo Kosmos. “The future Mexican production site will allow us to combine the best of our expertise to provide a quality and sustainable product offering.”

Ynsect’s CEO Antoine Hubert further added that the association with Corporativo Kosmos would enable his company to accelerate its development by leveraging the Mexican firm’s “leadership in food service provision and its expertise in real estate development.”

Founded in 2011 in Paris, France, by both scientists and environmental activists, Next40 and B Corp-certified Ynsect today employs around 350 people; it has raised around US$450 million from major investment funds, banks and public entities, and it exports its products around the world. 

www.ynsect.com