Small Insects with a Huge Sustainable Potential

Making a big difference with a small product. That is what the small Danish business, ENORM BioFactory (sister company to ENORM Aps), is aiming to achieve by introducing insects as a sustainable animal feed ingredient. In a world with a growing demand for alternative protein sources and a simultaneous rise in global CO2 emissions, the world’s need for sustainable solutions has never been greater.

Denmark imports roughly 1 million tons of feed protein every year, representing a large carbon footprint. One way to lower the carbon footprint is to substitute traditional fat and protein sources in animal feed with insects. ENORM BioFactory is working towards making insects an alternative to soy, palm oil, fishmeal and other protein sources.

Enorm estimates that the demand for protein in animal feed will rise by 70% over the next 20 years, creating a need for innovative solutions

Sustainable protein

ENORM BioFactory estimates that the demand for protein in animal feed will rise with 70% over the next 20 years, creating a need for innovative solutions and the introduction of alternative protein sources. When ENORM BioFactory’s production is fully operational their aim is to produce 100 tons of larvae every day, substituting some of the imported feed to Danish animal production.

ENORM BioFactory is focusing on animal feed, where black soldier larvaes function as a supplement or replacement of other less sustainable feed sources. ENORM BioFactory’s model is utilizing circular econonomics as the black soldier fly’s larvae feeds on biowaste from nearby food production facilities. They can thus offer a more sustainable source of protein as the worms are able to live off all organic material, and thereby gain sustenance from feeds sources that have little to no value for most other animals.

Efficient, easy and innovative

The insects have a huge potential as they can be farmed anywhere, taking up very little space. The transformation from egg to harvestable worm takes only 17 to 19 days, and the larvae grow 40 times their own bodyweight during the last seven days.

Besides the animal feed solution, ENORM also sees a big potential for human consumption, and has already launched a few products in Danish supermarkets, allowing consumers to snack on the insects with good conscience. In 2018, ENORM received the Food Innovation award for their first moving approach.