Tyson Foods, a prominent American food corporation, has recently disclosed its plans to join forces with Protix, a Dutch firm that identifies itself as the "world leader in insect ingredients."
The collaboration aims to promote "more sustainable protein production."
Through a direct equity investment, Tyson Foods will secure a minority interest in Protix, leading to the establishment of an "insect ingredient facility" in the United States for the production of insect-based protein.
In a statement issued on October 17, Tyson Foods unveiled that the proposed plant, upon completion, would be "the first at-scale facility of its kind to upcycle food manufacturing byproducts into high-quality insect proteins and lipids." These products are primarily intended for use in the pet food, aquaculture, and livestock industries.
John Tyson, Chief Financial Officer of Tyson Foods, expressed that their alliance with Protix is the latest strategic investment by Tyson Foods in innovative solutions that contribute added value to their business. He further stated, "The insect lifecycle provides the opportunity for full circularity within our value chain, strengthening our commitment to building a more sustainable food system for the future."
Kees Aarts, CEO of Protix, hailed the agreement as "a major milestone for Protix" and a significant acceleration of their ambition to expand through international partnerships. He also highlighted the immediate potential to utilize Tyson Foods' existing byproducts as feedstock for their insects.
Established in 2019, Protix is among the world's largest producers of insect ingredients, manufacturing and processing 14,000 metric tons annually in the Netherlands. While the majority of its products are utilized in pet food, aquaculture feed, livestock feed, and organic fertilizer industries, some have advocated for the use of insect-based protein for human consumption.
The Ecologist reports that numerous insects "provide high-quality complete protein," signifying that they "contain all nine essential amino acids and are rich in fibre, iron and calcium."
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