Entocycle secures US$2.6M to expand insect farming operations

UK – Entocycle, a pioneering insect farming technology developer, has raised an additional US$2.6 million to support its expansion across Europe and beyond. 

This funding boost follows the US$5.4 million secured in a Series A round in January 2023. The latest investment comes from Blue Ledge Capital, Startup Basecamp, Armajaro Holdings Limited, and existing investors Climentum, Teampact, and TVC. 

CEO Keiran Whitaker expressed optimism about the new funding, emphasizing its role in Entocycle’s growth strategy. 

“The additional funding is a significant boost as we prepare to deploy insect facilities in multiple countries, further enhancing our profile and company valuation,” he said. 

Whitaker highlighted that many Series A investors have reinvested, and new investments from reputable funds position the company well for a future Series B round.

The primary objectives of this latest funding round include securing multiple contracts for commercial-scale insect farms in the UK and internationally. 

“We have several exciting projects in the pipeline,” Whitaker stated. 

Among these are prospects for a large-scale insect farm in the UK, potentially rivaling those in France and the Netherlands, and projects in Europe, North America, and Australasia.

Utilizing pig manure 

In addition to the new capital, Entocycle has developed a new R&D insect farm for the National Pig Center at the University of Leeds, which is now operational. 

This facility supports research projects like the InSafe and DELIVER programs, backed by the UK’s national funding agency, UKRI-BBSRC. 

The InSafe program aims to establish protocols and standards for insect farming in the UK, including using non-permissive feedstocks like livestock manure and slurry.

Meanwhile, the DELIVER project explores integrating insect farming with technologies such as anaerobic digesters and renewable energy systems.

Jude Bliss, Entocycle’s marketing director, emphasized the new facility’s importance for handling challenging substrates like pig manure.

“These substrates are challenging to manage and unsuitable for small, lab-scale environments, necessitating a purpose-built system that is robust and easy to clean,” she commented. 

The research conducted here is crucial for legislative development in the UK insect industry. It focuses on the safety and efficacy of insect farming as a solution to major agricultural environmental challenges.

Bliss also highlighted the benefits of integrating insect farming with anaerobic digestion (AD) for UK farmers. Significant synergies exist between these technologies, including reduced operating costs and the potential for insect frass to be used as a feedstock in AD systems. 

Such integration maximizes the valorization and upcycling of all waste streams, lowering initial capital expenditure.

Entocycle has also partnered with Bühler, leveraging its expertise in large-scale engineering projects. This collaborative approach combines entomology and engineering, allowing Entocycle to design optimal conditions for the highest possible yields.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.