InnovaFeed SAS, a French biotechnology company founded in 2016, develops insect-breeding and -processing processes. It sells ingredients derived from insects for animal nutrition and in particular aquaculture. Through production of a new source of protein, InnovaFeed aims to participate in the development of sustainable aquaculture. Capture fisheries and aquaculture require an increasing supply of proteins and lipids adapted to the nutritional needs of fish. InnovaFeed has the objective of setting up local production systems. This is made possible by the exclusive use of agricultural by-products to feed its insects, generating no additional impact on natural resources consumption. In addition, insect droppings are valued as organic fertilizers. History Creation InnovaFeed was created in 2016 by 4 engineers, Clément Ray, Guillaume Gras, Aude Guo and Bastien Oggeri, whose objective was to find alternatives feedstocks. Today, Clément Ray, Bastien Oggeri and Aude Guo are running the company. Industrial deployment In June 2016, InnovaFeed joined a scientific hub called Évry's Genopole, which enabled it to pursue several research and development projects and to develop its technology. Since October 2017, it has been operating a pilot production unit located near Gouzeaucourt (France 59) in the Cambrésis region to validate its industrial scale processes and to start commercializing its products. On 27 September 2018, InnovaFeed publicly announced the construction of a new production site in Nesle with a capacity of 10,000 tons of insect protein per year. This future production unit will be implemented next to the Tereos Group's starch manufacture in order to allow industrial synergies between the two sites: by-product upcycling, energy and logistical savings. On Monday, May 21, 2019, was laid the foundation stone of the site of Nesle. InnovaFeed announced that by 2022, five new plants will be deployed on the same model as the Nesle site. Funding InnovaFeed first funding round in mid-February 2018 enabled it to secure €15 million from a group of investors led by AlterEquity, a fund that invests in companies whose activities address a major social or environmental challenge. In November 2018, InnovaFeed announced that it had completed a second round of funding, securing an additional €40 million. The transaction involved a group of European and Asian investors led by Creadev. This investment will enable to strengthen the team as well as support and accelerate InnovaFeed's industrial development on several new production sites. Business development In 2017, InnovaFeed entered in a partnership with the French retailer Auchan