Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Facility Launch: Innovafeed opens its North American Insect Innovation Center (NAIIC) in Decatur, Illinois, enhancing its industrial expansion for sustainable insect ingredient production in North America.
- Collaborative Efforts: The facility collaborates with ADM, using agricultural by-products to efficiently produce insect-based proteins and oils.
- Sustainable Production: Through innovative and sustainable practices, the facility aims to produce substantial annual outputs of animal feed proteins and oils, contributing to environmental sustainability goals.
- Economic and Community Impact: The initiative is expected to generate economic benefits, promote local job creation, and support community development.
- Future Prospects: The partnership with ADM and ongoing research studies seek to explore the extended potential of insect-based ingredients in various markets.
Introduction to NAIIC
A Milestone for Innovafeed’s Industrial Strategy Innovafeed, a leader in the production of insect-based ingredients for animal feed, officially opened its North American Insect Innovation Center (NAIIC) on April 18th in Decatur, Illinois. This facility marks the beginning of the company’s plans to scale up production and enhance the commercialization of insect proteins in the United States.
Operational and Strategic Details
Innovative Production Techniques At NAIIC, Innovafeed utilizes black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) to convert agricultural by-products into high-value insect meal, oils, and soil amendments. This process is noted for its efficiency and sustainability, aiming to achieve a zero-waste production cycle.
Choice of Location Decatur, Illinois was chosen for its strategic importance in the agricultural sector, positioned close to ADM’s North American headquarters and the largest corn mill operations. “We chose Decatur for our first U.S. operation because of its location in the heart of the Midwest corn belt and its proximity to our partner ADM and other agribusiness leaders,” said Clément Ray, CEO of Innovafeed.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Industrial Symbiosis and Resource Efficiency A direct pipeline to ADM’s corn processing wet mill allows the NAIIC to recover up to 300,000 tons per year of by-products, which are then transformed into insect-based products. This integration not only supports up to 60,000 metric tons of animal feed protein production annually but also produces 20,000 metric tons of oils and 400,000 metric tons of soil amendment each year.
Contributions to Decarbonization Goals “This circular process will present a tangible solution to contribute to our mission and the US Department of Energy’s objectives of decarbonizing the industrial sector,” added Ray. The facility aims to replicate an industrial symbiosis model Innovafeed pioneered in France, which is still under comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA).
Community and Economic Benefits
State and Local Government Endorsements Illinois Governor JB Pritzker attended the inauguration, illustrating the state’s support for innovative and sustainable industrial projects. “Innovative, exciting new approaches to agricultural and environmental challenges are what Illinois is all about,” Governor Pritzker stated. “This expansion demonstrates a commitment to Illinois as a place to grow and innovate.”
Promoting Local Development Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe highlighted the significant impact of Innovafeed’s facility on the local economy. “The inauguration of Innovafeed’s first U.S. location is another huge win for Decatur and shows what innovation and growth look like in central Illinois,” she commented.
Collaborations and Future Directions
Partnership Enhancements ADM’s Senior Vice President, Chris Cuddy, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s future: “Our collaboration is a great example of how we are constantly seeking innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for alternative protein sources.”
Research and Development In partnership with ADM, Innovafeed has initiated comprehensive R&D studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. These studies aim to underscore the nutritional and health benefits of Hilucia™ insect ingredients, with results expected later this year.
Image provided by Innovafeed
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