BioMar, Innovafeed and Auchan launch Europe’s first scalable insect-fed shrimp

ECUADOR – The aquaculture industry reached a turning point this week as BioMar, Innovafeed, and Auchan Retail unveiled Europe’s first large-scale rollout of insect-fed shrimp. 

Announced on the opening day of the Global Shrimp Forum, running September 2–4, the initiative introduces shrimp raised on BioMar Ecuador’s next-generation feed, which incorporates insect protein produced by Innovafeed. 

The shrimp will be marketed by French retail giant Auchan, making it the first retail chain to embed insect-fed shrimp into its responsible sourcing strategy.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone for both the aquaculture and insect protein industries, demonstrating that insect meal is no longer just experimental but commercially viable at scale.

It also represents a shared commitment to reshaping protein supply chains toward greater resilience, sustainability, and circularity.

Scaling up a functional ingredient

Insect protein, derived from the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), has been gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to conventional feed ingredients. 

Recent BioMar research found that insect meal not only provides protein but also delivers functional nutrients such as antimicrobial peptides. 

These properties enhance shrimp health and performance, positioning insect meal as a valuable functional ingredient in aquafeeds.

“In BioMar we believe in the sustainable future of the aquaculture industry and alternative ingredients like insect meal play a vital role in this. Working together with Auchan and Innovafeed we have established a viable commercial model for insect meal,” said Henrik Aarestrup, Vice President LATAM, Shrimp & Hatchery at BioMar Group. 

He added that it was important to design a scalable model that leveraged the unique functional benefits of black soldier fly in shrimp diets. 

For Innovafeed, the alliance validates years of investment in insect production technology.

“This partnership is a defining moment not just for Innovafeed, but for the entire insect and aquaculture industries. By combining our technology with BioMar’s aquafeed expertise and Auchan’s retail leadership, we’re proving that sustainable shrimp farming can be scaled, economically viable, and consumer-ready,” said Clément Ray, CEO and Co-founder, alongside Elizaveta Le Floch, Chief Business Officer.

A retail commitment to sustainability

Auchan Retail’s involvement gives the initiative a direct link to consumers and underlines the growing demand for sustainable food products. 

“We are committed to responsible sourcing and see this partnership as a tangible step toward better food for our customers and the planet. Supporting more sustainable aquaculture practices through our shrimp supply chains is perfectly aligned with our long-term vision,” said Laurent Francony, Group CSR Executive Director at Auchan Retail.

By integrating insect-fed shrimp into its offerings, Auchan becomes a pioneer in Europe’s retail space, bridging innovation in feed with consumer access to more sustainable seafood.

The tripartite alliance underscores how collaboration across aquaculture, biotechnology, and retail can accelerate the scale-up of alternative proteins.

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