Nutriearth opens first insect-based vitamin D3 factory in France

FRANCE – Nutriearth, a French biotechnology company pioneering natural vitamin D3 production from edible insects, has officially launched its first commercial manufacturing facility in Carvin, northern France.

The milestone marks the company’s leap from laboratory innovation to industrial-scale production, positioning it to transform the global vitamin D3 market, which remains almost entirely dependent on imports from China and India.

Backed by regional partners and private investors following a €7.45 million (US$8 million) fundraising round, the Carvin site integrates Nutriearth’s research, quality control, and production activities under pharmaceutical-grade standards. 

The facility features separate cleanroom lines for its two vitamin D3 formats, oil and powder, both made entirely on-site using traceable, locally sourced inputs.

“This site gives us the capacity to cover the vitamin D3 needs of over 50 million people,” said Nutriearth CEO Jeremy Burks. “We’re helping address a global deficiency crisis with a nature-based solution that is sustainable, effective, and scalable.”

A natural, sustainable alternative

Nutriearth’s patented process harnesses the nutritional potential of the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), which naturally contains a vitamin D3 precursor. 

By exposing the mealworm flour to a specific type of light, the company mimics the body’s own synthesis process, converting the precursor into active, bioavailable vitamin D3, without any solvents, chemicals, or additives.

Scientific tests show that Nutriearth’s insect-derived vitamin D3 is absorbed up to three times better than lanolin-based D3 and twice as efficiently as D3 derived from lichen. 

An independent life cycle assessment further revealed that the process cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 76.8% and reduces total environmental impact eightfold compared to conventional sources.

The company’s Nutra-oil is already approved for supplements and functional foods in North America, while its N-utra vitamin D3 flour gained European Commission approval in February 2025, paving the way for broader use in functional foods, animal feed, and nutraceutical applications.

Strengthening Europe’s nutritional independence

Regional vice-president Philippe Beauchamps hailed Nutriearth as “a perfect example of the industrial projects the Hauts-de-France Region seeks to promote.”

He added, “By supporting Nutriearth, the Region is reaffirming its commitment to backing forward-looking industrial projects that create jobs while also providing tangible solutions to public health and ecological transition challenges.”

The launch comes as Nutriearth celebrates another major milestone: its certification as a B Corporation in September 2025. 

With a score of 107.2 points, the company joined a global community of over 10,000 certified firms meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance.

Audrey Delporte, Nutriearth’s CSR Officer, said the recognition “echoes the values that guide us: positive impact, sustainability and continuous improvement.” 

She added, “Becoming a B Corp is not an endpoint but a starting point; proof that it is possible to innovate in nutrition while respecting social and environmental balances.”

With its Carvin facility now fully operational, Nutriearth is poised to expand supply of its sustainable vitamin D3 to global markets, from human nutrition to pet food and animal feed.

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