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VIETMAN- Entobel, a global leader in sustainable insect-based ingredients for animal feed and plant nutrition, proudly inaugurated its state-of-the-art black soldier fly (BSF) production plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam.
The co-founders and co-CEOs of Entobel, Alexandre de Caters and Gaëtan Crielaard, expressed their excitement at the plant’s opening during the launch.
“Today marks a major milestone in our journey to transform the insect protein landscape and supply sustainable feed ingredients to the rapidly growing aquaculture and pet food industries,” they said in a joint statement.
Constructed in an industry record time of 12 months, Entobel’s Vung Tau facility stands out as the world’s most CAPEX-efficient BSF production facility. Boasting 50 levels of vertical rearing, the plant incorporates cutting-edge automation via robotics, advanced sensors, and data analytics to enhance productivity.
Fueled by a successful US$33 million Series B funding round in 2022, backed by investors Mekong Capital, Dragon Capital, and The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the plant is Entobel’s second industrial-scale production facility in Vietnam.
It holds an impressive annual production capacity of 10,000 MT of insect protein, creating 150 jobs in manufacturing and operations, thus serving as an economic anchor for the local community.
Sandy Singh Sandhu, Entobel’s CFO, highlighted the capital allocation efficiency and execution excellence demonstrated by the Entobel team.
“The successful commissioning of the Vung Tau plant has de-risked the operational and technological aspects of the business model, enabling the plant to serve as a blueprint for Entobel’s rapid regional expansion,” Sandhu stated.
Entobel’s strategic selection of Vietnam as the initial scale-up market is underlined by three core reasons. Firstly, Vietnam’s tropical climate provides an ideal environment for BSF, reducing capital and operational expenditures.
Secondly, the country is one of the largest aquaculture hubs globally. Thirdly, Entobel has established a strategic collaboration with HEINEKEN Vietnam and other feedstock suppliers to create a circular ecosystem, upcycling by-products of HEINEKEN Vietnam’s production process into high-quality proteins, oils, and organic fertilizer.
Entobel’s end products, including insect protein and insect oil, cater primarily to the aquaculture and livestock industries. Additionally, the company produces insect frass, a sustainable base for fertilizer that reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, contributing to lower agriculture field operational costs.
As the global demand for sustainable feed ingredients continues to rise, Entobel is positioning itself for regional expansion, with plans for continued growth in Vietnam and new facilities in markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
The company aims to launch its Series C funding round in the first half of 2024 to support its ambitious growth plans. Entobel’s success in creating an efficient, sustainable, and scalable insect protein production model underscores its commitment to addressing the pressing challenges facing the global food and agriculture industries.
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