InsectERA, new food products using insects

INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory is part of the consortium of the InsectERA, a project submitted to the resilience and recovery plan (PPR). It is led by the Ingredient Odyssey. Lda (IO) and is promoted by 38 companies and research centers that intend to invest €57.4 Million to place Portugal at the forefront of the insect industry.

InsectEra integrates raw ingredient, technology and agro services, industry, companies and institutes: APISB&O Technology, INOVA+, Falcão e Cunha, Figueiredo, Torres, Guerreiro & Assoc, Sense Test, as ENSIIs B2E CoLab, Colab4Food, FeedInov, InnovPlantProtect CoLab, CIIMAR, Egas Moniz, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Universidade do Porto, INEGI, INESC TEC, INIAV, INL, Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Instituto Superior Técnico, IST-ID, Universidade de Aveiro, Universidade Católica Portuguesa e as associações Agrotejo, IACA, APBio, DGAV, Ingredient Odissey, Cricket Farming Company Co, Thunder Foods, Auchan Retail Portugal, Mendes Gonçalves, Mesosystem, Nutrifarms, PetMaxi, Savinor, Silvex, Solfarcos and Sorgal.

The promotors intend to industrialize, commercialize and export innovative insect-based products with solutions for animal and human food, cosmetics, bioplastics, and bioremediation.  Besides four industrial units and a logistic center, the Agenda of InsectERA foresees the creation of 140 new work contracts and more than 23 million euros in revenue by 2024. As a result, at least 43 new insect-based products will be industrialized.

The Food Processing and Nutrition Research Group of INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory participates with other entities in the food pilar to use insects as a healthy and sustainable alternative protein source where at least 13 new lines of products with be developed.