NEWS 106 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2025 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 head-on 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. Read more>> Transforming the world's food and agriculture systems is essential to feed the growing global population within planetary boundaries. To support this transition, Nestlé explained it is engaged in research collaborations exploring innovative food production practices across the value chain, including marine production systems. Together with external partners in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences is researching the potential environmental benefits and scalability of an innovative aquaculture approach. Aquaculture has the potential to improve the sustainability of our food systems, from low-carbon ingredients in foods to algal bioplastics for packaging. One approach involves farming different aquatic species from various levels of the food chain together. Known as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, it can enable the waste from one species to serve as food for another – a natural recycling process that helps to maintain water quality. This species diversification can also help to improve biodiversity and income stability for farmers. In New Zealand, Nestlé is partnering with the Cawthron Institute, the country's largest independent science organization, to study the interactions between different species of seaweed and shellfish. Supported by the Cawthron Institute's marine science and aquaculture expertise, as well as local PhD research, this work is expected to help scientists to better understand the best mix of species and ocean conditions to optimize productivity and environmental benefits. Read more>> Volare secures €26M to build protein plant Nestlé and partners explore innovative marine production systems Photo: Nestlé Photo: Volare
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==