Alternative Proteins Magazine NEWS October 2025 15 Up to one fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions derive from meat production, the majority of which is from pig and poultry meat. With around 60% of emissions from pig and poultry meat linked to the production of animal feed, there has been much debate within the sector over the use of alternative animal feed sources with insect-based feed gaining interest as it may require less water, energy and land resource than plant-based products. In July 2023, the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) commissioned Ricardo’s sustainability team to provide an independent, scientifically robust Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report exploring how, from an emissions reduction point of view, the production of insect protein might perform as pig and poultry feed compared to conventional soybean and fish stocks. The research looked at the potential cradle-to-gate – ie. from raw material acquisition to manufacturing and distribution - impacts of using the larvae from Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) reared from both permitted sources (e.g wheat-based feed) and currently unpermitted sources (e.g food waste, chicken manure). The associated potential impacts of the BSFL feed were assessed in terms of 16 environmental impact categories, including climate change, acidification, ecotoxicity, land, and water use. Comparative assessments were made for soybean meal grown in Brazil and transported to the UK, and fish meal made from blue whiting caught off the Scottish coast. Read more>> Finnish biotech company Volare announced the closing of a €26 million funding round to build Volare 01 – a facility set to become the most efficient protein production plant in the world, and to advance its unique technology. Located in Pori, Finland, the facility will serve as a cornerstone in scaling Volare’s proprietary insect protein technology. The company points out the milestone as strengthening protein self-sufficiency and accelerating the shift toward sustainable, circular food production in Europe. The round includes a mix of equity, mezzanine and senior loans, and public funding, with support from Maki. vc, Firstminute Capital, Springvest, The Finnish Climate Fund (to be merged with Finnish Industry Investment), Finnvera, Norion Bank, South Ostrobothnia ELY Centre and Business Finland. The European Union is currently just 34% self-sufficient in protein concentrates (containing more than 30% protein), according to the European Commission, leaving the region heavily dependent on imports. This reliance makes the food system increasingly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and price fluctuations. Volare explains that its scalable, local production model addresses this challenge headon by converting food industry byproducts into circular, insect-based protein. The approach reduces waste, supports regional agriculture, and strengthens the resilience and self-sufficiency of Europe’s food system. At the core of Volare’s breakthrough is the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), nature’s most efficient bioreactor. Read more>> New Report: Insect protein could be 13.5 times worse for climate than soy Volare secures €26M to build high-efficiency protein plant Photo: Volare
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==