Tyson Foods has engaged in a joint venture with Protix b.v. of the Netherlands to establish a facility to produce insect protein.  Protix has operated a plant in the Netherlands since 2019 with a capacity of 14,000 tons of product annually.  The project will use food waste and byproducts to produce fly larva that will be processed into protein for pet foods and livestock.  The project has a projected capital cost of $60 million. A number of producers in the E.U and Africa are currently producing insect-derived protein from soldier fly larva (Hermetia illucens) using food waste and other recycled material as a substrate.

Kees Aarts, CEO of Protix noted, “Our strategic partnership advances work towards creating a high-quality sustainable protein using innovative technology.

John R. Tyson, CFO of Tyson Foods stated, “The insect lifecycle provides the opportunity for full circularity within our value chain, strengthening our commitment to building a more sustainable food system for the future”.