Ÿnsect, one of the world leaders in insect production, explained that it will establish new insect farms in Mexico and the USA. The company signed an agreement with Corporativo Kosmos for the project in Mexico and Ardent Mills for the project in the USA.
Ÿnsect announced its new insect farm projects in Mexico and the US. The company signed an agreement with Corporativo Kosmos to establish a new insect vertical farm in Mexico and also to work with Ardent Mills for the project to expand its insect farm in the US.
THE PROJECT WITH CORPORATIVO KOSMOS FOR MEXICO
In the context of its international development, Ÿnsect intends to establish and operate an insect farm in Mexico. For this, the company signed an agreement with Corporativo Kosmos, Mexico’s leading food service business. Mexico is the leading country in terms of consumption of insects and insect-based proteins. Furthermore, the insect farm would offer proximity to the United States, by far the largest future market for insect protein.
In November 2022, Antoine Hubert, CEO of Ÿnsect, and Jack Landsmanas, CEO of Corporativo Kosmos signed an exclusive Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to begin developing this insect farm in Mexico. This agreement marks the continuation of a two-year-long collaboration between two key players within the global food industry: Ÿnsect, the world leader in insect production, and Corporativo Kosmos, leader in providing comprehensive food and food facilities services in Mexico.
Each partner brings unique capabilities to the joint development. Corporativo Kosmos has extensive experience in sourcing and securing feedstock for its massive food business, in construction and logistics, and key knowledge at doing business in Mexico.
Ÿnsect brings to the partnership its world-leading insect protein technology, wide patents, R&D, and customer relationships in North America.
Antoine Hubert, CEO and co-founder of Ÿnsect, said: “We are excited to join forces with Corporativo Kosmos, we know their feed will give substance to our projects and their real estate expertise will accelerate our plans and development. We aim to reinvent the global food system with a focus on sustainability. This is why we choose to establish ourselves locally on all continents, to limit our CO2 emissions across our farming activities.”
Jack Landsmanas, CEO of Corporativo Kosmos, added: “We are very pleased to be actively continuing our collaboration with Ÿnsect, a company that has developed unique expertise in insect production. We are excited about the development of an insect farm site in Mexico and we believe that the combination of both our capabilities, will result in a stronger product mix and a successful partnership.’’
THE PROJECT WITH ARDENT MILLS FOR THE US
Ÿnsect announced its intent to expand insect production sites within the United States. The move builds off Ÿnsect’s first mealworm farm opening in March 2022 in Nebraska. Ÿnsect anticipates initial construction on the additional production site to begin by end of 2023. As part of this expansion, Ÿnsect will explore potential synergies with Ardent Mills, the premier flour milling and ingredient company.
“Ynsect aims to help contribute to reinventing the global food system, while also focusing on sustainability. We are excited to examine potential opportunities with the North America leader in flour milling. This exploration marks the start of potential collaborations between two key players within the global food industry,” said Hubert.
Ÿsnect is strategically expanding their business across all continents to establish local relations with wheat chains and limit CO2 emissions, water consumption and biodiversity impact across farming activities. The company has adopted a circular economy model for its new vertical farms to create value chains that are fully compliant with the Paris COP21 agreements.
“We see many synergies with Ÿnsect — as we both strive to transform the way the world is nourished. We are excited to be exploring potential sustainable food and ingredient opportunities with Ÿnsect, a company that has developed a unique expertise in insect-based ingredient production,’’ said Angie Goldberg, Chief Growth Officer, Ardent Mills.
With three production sites including the world’s largest vertical insect farm, Ÿnsect transforms Buffalo and Molitor mealworms into premium, high-value, sustainable ingredients to feed animals, plants and humans. Since entering the US market in March 2022 following Jord Producers acquisition, Ynsect has filed market approval for its flagship protein concentrate for the pet food market to the AAFCO.
INSECTS: A MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO FEED GROWING POPULATIONS
The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) estimates that animal protein consumption will increase by 52% between 2007 and 2030. However, the World Resources Institute also predicts a 60% gap between protein supply and demand by 2050. With this in mind, the production of sustainable alternatives to animal protein is needed now more than ever.
In addition to offering a highly nutritious alternative to plant proteins, insect protein production is also incredibly sustainable. “Mealworm protein is the only one in the world available on the market that can combine not only performance and health, but also natural origin and sustainability. Compared to traditional farming, Ÿnsect uses 98% less land while significantly reducing its carbon footprint for protein production,” added Antoine Hubert.
Insect protein is more sustainable and will open a new mode of food development that is efficient, nutritious, and capable of positively impacting the food chain at multiple points”, Antoine concludes.
