The edible insect industry is booming. And although the thought of eating bugs may be unappealing, insect protein is already being used for aquaculture, livestock feed, pet foods, and some products intended for human consumption. Insects are also being hailed as a possible solution to world hunger as rising populations and limited resources compel food industries and governments to find viable alternatives to meat.
The French biotech firm Ÿnsect has just announced plans to construct a global network of insect farms, significantly ramping up production. Ÿnsect will soon boast the world’s largest vertical insect farm, located in Amiens, France. The company stated that the vertical farm model allows the production of more protein using less space and fewer resources. The automated facility is the second in France, and the company claims that it will manufacture 20,000 tons of insect-based foods annually.
