Hilucia™: Insect Protein for Animal Nutrition

Innovation

InnovaFeed’s innovation centres around its sustainable use of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) to create high-quality insect proteins and oils for animal feed. Their process involves upcycling agricultural by-products, turning waste into valuable nutrients. Additionally, InnovaFeed's commitment to sustainability is reflected in its circular economy model. The company collaborates with major industry players like Tereos, a global leader in sugar production, and Cargill, a global food agricultural products corporation, to implement eco-friendly practices, including using agricultural by-products from sugar processing as larvae feed.

Designed for 4 markets

Pets (Hilucia for pets)

InnovaFeed offers sustainable, insect-based protein solutions for the pet food industry, focusing on both nutritional quality and environmental impact. Their products provide highly digestible protein and essential nutrients like fatty acids, promoting optimal pet health. Innovafee even offers customers the option to feature a "Powered by Hilucia" logo on their packaging, promoting transparency and sustainability to consumers.

• Hilucia™ Protein for Pets

  • Packed with high-quality protein

  • Taste and aroma pets love

  • Great for pets with sensitivities

• Hilucia™ Oil for Pets 

  • Premium energy source

  • Rich in MCT fatty acids

  • Highly digestible and versatile

Source: innovafeed.com

Livestock (Hilucia for monogastrics)

These proteins are designed to enhance animal health and growth performance while reducing the environmental impact of animal agriculture. In addition to protein, the larvae also supply essential nutrients like lipids, which are important for animal diets.

"Innovafeed insect oil is rich in lauric acid, known for its role in modulating intestinal microbial flora."

Source: innovafeed.com

Aquaculture (Hilucia for aqua)

Their flagship product delivers a nutritious and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fishmeal. It improves fish health and growth performance while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of aquaculture feed.

"To adapt perfectly to each species nutritional needs, Innovafeed has developed distinct products thereby ensuring the best performance of its feed ingredients : Hilucia™ Protein for Salmonids, Hilucia™ Protein for Shrimp and Hilucia™ Oil for Aqua."

Source: innovafeed.com

Agriculture (Hilucia for plants)

InnovaFeed’s insect-based solutions for crops focus on producing organic fertilizers derived from black soldier fly larvae. These fertilizers provide essential nutrients to improve soil health and boost crop yields. They are part of a sustainable farming approach that reduces chemical input and recycles agricultural waste.

• "Is mostly based on insect droppings from Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) fed with a 100% vegetable and guaranteed GMO-free substrate,

• Shows a well-balanced nutrient profile (N-P-K of 3-4-3), making it suitable for all crops (viticulture, cereals, arboriculture, vegetables),

• Has a high dry matter content (90%) and is rich in organic matter (>75%),

• Exhibits a low environmental impact compared to other organic fertilizers on the market (-45% lower CO2eq emissions than poultry manure, LCA Quantis 2023)."

Source: innovafeed.com

Case studies

World’s First Insect Oil-Fed Chicken Value Chain

In June 2020, InnovaFeed launched the world’s first chicken value chain fed with insect oil, replacing 100% of the soybean oil in the poultry's diet with insect oil. This collaboration from farm to fork aimed to provide a sustainable poultry alternative, and it was introduced to consumers via dedicated marketing in Auchan supermarkets. The insect oil positively impacted poultry growth and health. This success led to the inclusion request of insect oil in Label Rouge poultry standards, followed by the launch of insect oil-fed swine in 2021.

First "Insect-Fed" Trout Launched Under "Vive l’insecte" Label

In December 2018, InnovaFeed, along with partners like fish farmer Truite Service, retailer Auchan, and feed formulator Skretting, launched the first trout under the label “Vive l’insecte.” This pioneering effort replaced 50% of fishmeal in trout feed with insect protein. The trout were sold in over 50 stores in Northern France with a specific “insect-fed” label. Building on this success, the team introduced a “sustainable trout” in 2020, also incorporating micro-algae oil to boost Omega-3 content and ensuring no impact on marine resources.

Sources: innovafeed.com, innovafeed.com

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

InnovaFeed’s life cycle assessment thoroughly evaluates the environmental performance of its insect protein production, comparing it to traditional sources like fishmeal and soy. The study reveals that the production of black soldier fly larvae significantly reduces environmental impacts across several key metrics:

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Reduced by 80% compared to fishmeal and soy production.

• Land Use: Reduced by 98%, making it far more space-efficient.

• Water Consumption: Reduced by 50%, contributing to water conservation.

Additionally, the larvae feed on agricultural by-products, with 90% of their diet coming from waste streams, promoting circular economy principles.

Pricing

For pricing details, it would be necessary to contact InnovaFeed directly via email: sales@innovafeed.com for quotes tailored to your needs.