NEWS 104 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2025 nextProtein, an AgTech company based in Paris, Lyon, France and Tunisia, unveiled the successful close of its €18 million Series B funding round to scale up and accelerate production to meet growing market demand for insect-based protein. The new investment will enable nextProtein to significantly scale its operations, including the opening of its second stateof-the-art production facility and expansion of production capacity operations and achieve profitability through its second facility in Tunisia designed to produce 12,000 tons of insect-based ingredients annually (of which 2,500 tonnes per year of protein powder). The round is co-led by Swen Capital’s Blue Ocean Fund and British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, and with continued support from existing investors Mirova through its fund dedicated to ocean protection and RAISE Impact. Additionally, €4 million of senior debt from Société Générale, CIC Paris Innovation, and La Banque des Start-ups by LCL underscores strong investor confidence in nextProtein’s technology, business model, and path to scale, according to the announcement. Founded to address the growing demand for sustainable protein alternatives, nextProtein produces insect-derived ingredients such as protein powder (nextMeal), oil (nextOil) and fertiliser (nextGrow), for the feed (primarily aquaculture, but also livestock and petfood) and agriculture industries. Read more>> nextProtein secures €18M for insect protein production Photo: nextProtein Data from 1,500 silage samples highlights that while dry matter levels tend to be higher in 2025, there has been a continued decline in magnesium, copper and zinc over the past three years, according to a recent statement by Nettex. The samples show copper levels have dropped from 8mg/kg DM in 2023 to 6mg/kg in 2025, while zinc has fallen from 32mg/kg to 27mg/kg over the same period. The summer drought also contributed to reduced cobalt and iron concentrations. “This is a particular concern in pregnant animals in all-year-round calving dairy herds and for spring-calving beef and dairy cows, which are typically fed predominantly forage based diets,” warns Nettex Commercial and Technical Manager Nia Williams. “Mineral deficiencies in cows during pregnancy significantly affect both the health of the dam and the development of the foetus, leading to complications around calving and poor calf health.” “Key deficiencies can cause severe metabolic diseases like milk fever and grass staggers, as well as problems with reproduction, immunity and foetal development. These can have long-term impacts on cow health, their ability to get back in calf, and longevity within the herd,” Williams continues. She notes, “Unborn calves depend entirely on the cow for their mineral supply, with the dam often prioritising the foetus’s needs for trace elements at the expense of her own. However, a maternal deficiency can still cause long-term problems for the calf, affecting their development, immunity and growth.” Read more>> New data highlights forage trace element decline in 2025 Photo: Nettex
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==