Agroloop Hungary has opened its €30m 13,000-square-meter insect protein production facility on the outskirts of Budapest.
The company noted that the plant is the first of its kind in Hungary; the site will operate 24/7, year-round, with 35 employees managing advanced systems, including an air purification method designed to eliminate odors.
The rearing substrates, most of which will be collected within a 20km radius of the site, will be sourced in both liquid and solid forms, Agroloop’s CEO, Rajmond Percze, told us previously.
In its peak operational season, 1.8 billion black soldier fly (BSF) larvae will grow within a closed, highly automated system comprising around 36,000 crates. From these larvae, the plant will produce 250 tons of protein meal, 50 tons of feed fat, and 900 tons of organic fertilizer monthly.
Percze said the company’s long-term ambition is clear: to establish Hungary as a leader in the global insect protein industry.
With this facility now operational, he said the insect producer is poised to spearhead the adoption of sustainable protein production in Central and Eastern Europe, contributing to the broader goal of addressing ecological challenges worldwide.
Outsourcing model
It is also outsourcing parts of the insect farming process, having partnered with FreezeM Ltd, a firm involved in BSF breeding technologies.
FreezeM’s breeding center in Germany will supply Agroloop with larvae and offer ongoing support to ensure consistent quality and efficiency. The company believes this collaboration introduces a flexible and scalable model for insect protein production, enabling it to focus on processing while leveraging FreezeM’s decades of expertise in large-scale insect breeding.
Tech know-how
Leading suppliers WEDA, Bühler, and Reinartz have provided the key BSF rearing and processing equipment for the factory.
WEDA supplied proven conveyor technology to ensure reliable transport of substrates.
“With a special control system, feed components can be combined from various storage containers, allowing Agroloop to produce the most cost-effective recipes based on requirements and stock levels,” explained WEDA.
Agroloop is utilizing Bühler’s nursery and rearing technology for insect growth, along with Reinartz’s expertise in insect larvae dry processing.
Investment
Agroloop’s rapid rise since its establishment in 2020 is backed by strong financial and strategic support, with contributions from venture capital firms such as Gran Private Equity, Blue Planet Venture Capital Funds, and Lead Ventures Fund Management, as well as financing facilitated by UniCredit Group and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
UBM, a prominent Hungarian feed market player, will play a critical role in introducing and distributing insect-based products in the regional livestock feed market.
A strategic partnership means that feed manufacturer will purchase the majority of Agroloop’s production until 2027, the CEO reported earlier this year.
