Bühler to build first insect protein plant

The partnership between Bühler and Protix became official at the beginning of this year when they formed the joint venture ‘Bühler Insect Technology’. Building the first black soldier fly processing plant in Europe together is the next step in this cooperation and will serve as a modular and scalable blueprint for future projects.

For the new plant, Bühler will deliver the technology, equipment, and process know how for the rearing and processing of the insects and the feedstock preparation. The plant will be situated in the Netherlands and will serve customers in the feed industry.

With construction starting this year, the plant is expected to be operational in the first half of 2018. It will produce protein meal and lipids that are used in the animal nutrition sector to feed pigs, chicken, fish, and domestic animals. The black soldier fly larvae are fed carefully selected organic by-products from local distilleries, food producers and vegetable collectors in the Netherlands, which further underlines the sustainability of the process.