Norgesgruppen, Larvae | Food giant buys into the production of larvae

Norgesgruppen will help finance Norway’s first larval factory, which will be established at Voss.

The larvae are to be used in the production of food for both humans and animals.

– Together with Invertapro, we want to utilize the food waste for new protein-rich products, and in that way contribute to a more circular food production. It will also further develop the market for alternative protein sources. We believe it has a positive environmental effect, both in the form of increased resource utilization and for the climate, writes sustainability director Signe Bunkholt Sæter in the Norgesgruppen in a press release.

Since 2016, Invertapro has produced flour beetle larvae at Voss. Until now, they have operated a pilot plant of 1,000 square meters. Now this is to be upgraded to a full-scale factory.

– Insects are in a special class compared to other protein sources when it comes to CO2 emissions and feed, land and water requirements. The market for this type of protein is large, stresses Solstad Ringheim.

The products can be anything from pure dried larvae, flour from dried larvae as an ingredient in foods, or fish, chicken or pigs fed with insect meal.

Invertapro is approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to produce and sell larvae for human consumption and feed – and to sell insect secretions as organic fertiliser.