FarmInsect GmbH
FarmInsect GmbH is an innovative AgriTech startup from Munich that offers sustainable insect breeding facilities for agriculture. Aiming to replace conventional feed with protein-rich insect larvae, the company promotes a circular economy and reduces CO2 emissions.
FarmInsect: Sustainable Insect Farming for Agriculture
editKey Products and Services
editFarmInsect, an AgriTech startup from Munich, offers an innovative solution for the decentralized production of insects as sustainable feed for agriculture. The company provides modular, highly automated insect farming systems that enable farmers to utilize regional organic waste to breed insect larvae. These larvae, particularly those of the black soldier fly, serve as a protein-rich alternative to conventional feed such as soy and fish meal.
Main Mission and Values
editThe mission of FarmInsect is to make agriculture more sustainable and future-proof. The company's goal is to replace soy and fish meal in the EU with insect feed within 10 years, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and the environmental impact of agriculture[3].
The values of FarmInsect include responsibility, data-driven decisions, entrepreneurial thinking, and resource conservation. The company focuses on sustainability and transparency in all its processes.
Sustainability Goals and Initiatives
editFarmInsect focuses on creating a circular economy by utilizing local waste and minimizing waste. The insect farming systems not only produce protein-rich feed but also compost, which can be sold as fertilizer or used for biogas production. Through these solutions, farmers can reduce their feed costs by up to 30% while simultaneously cutting CO2 emissions by over 50%[1][2].
Funding and Partnerships
editFarmInsect recently raised 8 million euros in an oversubscribed Series A funding round, led by the Norwegian VC firm Sandwater, with participation from Bayern Kapital, the Minderoo Foundation, the EIC Fund, and existing investors HTGF and UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators. These funds will be used for the commercial scaling of the insect farming systems and for research and development work[1][2].
Founding Team and Development
editThe founding team consists of Thomas Kuehn and Wolfgang Westermeier, both experienced serial entrepreneurs in the food and agritech sector. They founded the company in 2020 after insects were approved as feed in the EU. Since then, FarmInsect has achieved significant milestones, including the installation of the first customer systems and the opening of a new production site[3].
Future and Outlook
editFarmInsect is committed to intensifying its research and development efforts to expand and improve breeding lines. The company participates in important events such as EuroTier 2024 and collaborates closely with renowned institutions like Fraunhofer IGD to develop innovative solutions for the future of agriculture[3][4].