BioMar, Innovafeed, and Auchan have announced a partnership that intends to commercialize the use of insects– particularly black soldier fly meal produced by Innovafeed – into feed for the Ecuadorian shrimp sector.
The partnership, which was announced at the Global Shrimp Forum in Utrecht, Netherlands, aims to leverage the strengths of each company and, if successful, could mark a significant step in the acceptance of insect meal into aquaculture feed.
In a joint press release about the news, the companies said that thanks to BioMar’s research on the functional nutritional value of black soldier flies, they had found an economically effective path forward to commercializing insect meal in shrimp feed.
BioMar Shrimp and Hatchery Head Henrik Aarestrup explained that the partnership offers a “viable commercial model for insect meal.”
“It was important to design a scalable model that leveraged the unique functional benefits of black soldier fly in shrimp diets. Any shrimp farmer purchasing BioMar feed from Ecuador can leverage this commercial opportunity,” Aarestrup said.
Croix, France-headquartered retailer Auchan will use its supply chain and industry contacts to “support the [insect feed] rollout by integrating shrimp raised on this next-generation feed into its responsible sourcing strategy and product offering.”
Auchan Group CSR Executive Director Laurent Francony said that Auchan felt that the partnership was a “tangible step toward better food for our customers and the planet."
"Supporting more sustainable aquaculture practices through our shrimp supply chains is perfectly aligned with our long-term vision,” Francony said.
Insect meal has long been considered a leading sustainable alternative to using marine species in fish feed and is already used by some who raise fish, poultry, and pork. Black soldier flies are considered to be an especially sustainable protein source since the flies consume large amounts of waste and their larvae are a nutritious food source.
Innovafeed Chief Business Officer Elizaveta Le Floch called the partnership “a defining moment not just for Innovafeed but for the entire insect and aquaculture industries."
"By combining our technology with BioMar’s aquafeed expertise and Auchan’s retail leadership, we’re proving that sustainable shrimp farming can be scaled, economically viable, and consumer-ready,” she said.
