Protix
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
Website type | Insect industry |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | 's Hertogenbosch (North Brabant), Netherlands |
| CEO | Kees Aarts |
| Website | protix |
| Commercial | Yes |
Protix is a multinational manufacturer and supplier of insects for animal feed, for livestock and for aquaculture . The company operates the world's largest insect factory, located in Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands.[1]
History
[edit]The company was founded in 2009 by the CEO Kees Aarts. Protix is headquartered in 's Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
In June 2017, the company raised €45 million in funding, at that time the largest investment in the industry.[2] In October 2017, Protix acquired Fair Insects, a company focused on breeding insects for human consumption.[3]
In June 2019, Protix opened a new site in Bergen op Zoom, which is the largest insect factory in the world.[1][4]
Although a potential €37 million loan under the InvestEU programme had been considered to support the construction of a plant in Poland, the European Investment Bank (EIB) stated that the loan was cancelled without any disbursement and that it is no longer involved in the project.[5] In February 2025, the company acknowledged that its industrial plant project in Poland had been put on hold.[6]
On 4 August 2026, Wakker Dier filed a complaint against Protix over alleged misleading sustainability claims.[7]
On 5 August 2026, a protest took place in front of the headquarters of Invest-NL, which has invested in Protix.[8] The protestors want to prevent more public tax money going to Protix by raising awareness on sustainability issues surrounding insect farming.[9]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Forbes/Davide Banis (14 June 2019): Can Using Insects As Animal Feed Reduce The Climate Impact Of Meat Production?.
- ↑ Cosgrove, Emma (17 October 2017). "Who are the Leading Insect Farming Startups?". Retrieved 2019-01-29.
- ↑ "Protix Acquires Fair Insects and Diversifies by Adding Mealworm, Cricket and Locusts to Its Portfolio" (Press release). Protix. PRNewswire. 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
- ↑ "Protix opens the largest insect factory in the world".
- ↑ "🚨 Un autre projet majeur de ferme d'insectes annulé en Pologne ? Le géant néerlandais Protix, l'un des leaders mondiaux des protéines d'insectes, semble avoir annulé la construction de son usine… | Corentin Biteau". fr.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ↑ "Eind 2023 verstrekte de Europese Investeringsbank een kredietfaciliteit… | Marcel Hooft van Huysduynen". nl.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ↑ "Klacht tegen duurzaamheidsclaims van insectenfabriek Protix" (Press release). Wakker Dier. 2026-08-04. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ Armanda Govers (2026-08-15). "Insectenteelt voor de voedselindustrie is wreed en totaal niet duurzaam". Joop. BNNVARA. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ "Questions for Protix — the insect story, checked against the evidence". Questions for Protix. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
External links
[edit]- Food and drink companies established in 2009
- Multinational companies headquartered in the Netherlands
- Insect farming companies
- Animal food manufacturers
- Food manufacturers of the Netherlands
- Agriculture companies established in the 2000s
- Dutch companies established in 2009
- Companies based in North Brabant
- 2009 establishments in the Netherlands