Volare Opens €15M Automated Insect Protein Factory, Targets European Scale-Up with €7.1M Funding
Volare launches its €15 million, 10,000 m² insect protein factory in Finland, leveraging automation to scale sustainable protein production across Europe.
Volare has opened its first industrial-scale insect protein factory, Volare 01, in Pori, Finland, following a €15 million investment. The facility, spanning 10,000 square metres, is designed to produce up to 5,000 tonnes of insect protein and 2,000 tonnes of insect oil annually, representing a thousand-fold increase from its previous demonstration plant.
Central to this scale-up is automation and cost-efficient engineering, which enables Volare to process large volumes of food industry side streams into high-value protein and oil. The company highlights that such engineering advancements are crucial for maintaining competitiveness and ensuring consistent product quality as the sector matures in Europe.
To accelerate its expansion, Volare has also secured €7.1 million in additional funding to support scaling efforts across the continent. This funding is expected to facilitate further automation, optimisation of production lines, and potential partnerships with European food industry players for sourcing raw materials.
The opening of Volare 01 positions the company to address the growing demand for sustainable protein sources amid tightening environmental regulations and shifting consumer preferences. The factory’s model of converting food industry side streams into protein aligns with broader EU sustainability goals, potentially reducing waste and supporting circular economy initiatives.
However, Volare faces challenges in scaling production in a competitive market, including navigating food safety regulations and securing long-term supply agreements. Regulatory hurdles remain a key consideration as the European insect protein sector continues to evolve.
For investors and policymakers, Volare’s facility demonstrates how automation and process engineering can transform alternative protein production, potentially reshaping supply chains and offering a scalable solution to Europe’s protein needs. The company’s success could influence future approaches to sustainable food production throughout the region.
