Protix

Protix, founded in 2009 in the Netherlands, is a leading company in the insect ingredients industry. The company specializes in breeding and processing black soldier fly larvae to produce sustainable protein and lipid ingredients for animal feed, pet food, and other applications. Protix utilizes food industry waste as feed for the insects, which are then processed into valuable nutrients. This circular approach aims to bring the food system back into balance with nature by providing a low-footprint alternative to traditional protein sources.

The company's technology enables efficient production of insect-based ingredients on an industrial scale. Protix operates a fully ramped-up industrial-scale plant in the Netherlands, which has been producing insect ingredients since 2019. As of 2023, this facility was capable of producing and processing 14,000 metric tons of insect larvae annually. Protix's product range includes ProteinX, LipidX, and PureeX, which are used in various applications such as aquaculture feed, pet food, and livestock feed.

In October 2023, Protix entered into a strategic partnership with Tyson Foods, a major global food company. This partnership involves Tyson Foods acquiring a minority stake in Protix and forming a joint venture to build an insect ingredients facility in the continental US. The planned US facility will house an enclosed system to support all aspects of insect protein production, including breeding, incubating, and hatching insect larvae.

Protix has been expanding its operations and product portfolio. In 2017, the company acquired Fair Insects, which allowed it to enter the market for mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers for direct human consumption. Protix has also developed consumer-facing products, such as OERei, a brand of eggs laid by chickens fed with Protix larvae, available in Dutch supermarkets.

In January 2024, Protix secured a EUR 37 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support its international expansion plans, including the potential establishment of a facility in Poland. The company aims to grow its global gross revenue to around EUR 1 billion by 2035 through international partnerships.

Key customers and partnerships

Protix serves major global companies in the pet food, aquaculture feed, livestock feed, and organic fertilizer industries. The company's products are available in 13 countries, with applications ranging from pig and poultry feed to specialty pet foods.

In October 2023, Protix formed a strategic partnership with Tyson Foods, which included Tyson acquiring a minority stake in the company and establishing a joint venture to build an insect ingredients facility in the US. This partnership aims to accelerate Protix's global expansion and open new revenue streams.

Protix has also collaborated with other industry leaders. In 2017, the company entered into a technology partnership with Bühler, a world market leader in feed and food processing, to further develop industrial solutions for insect breeding.