Innovafeed secures GFLI validation for environmental footprint data, eyes fertiliser market expansion

FRANCE – Innovafeed, one of the leaders in the production of insect-based ingredients for pet food, animal feed, and plant nutrition, has announced that the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its insect-based ingredients has been officially validated by the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI).

This validation confirms that Innovafeed’s LCA data, covering insect protein, oil, and frass (organic fertiliser), complies with GFLI’s rigorous methodology and aligns with international standards from the FAO (LEAP) and the European Union (PEF).

GFLI provides the global reference database for environmental footprint data used by the animal feed industry. It ensures that sustainability claims, such as carbon emissions, energy use, and resource consumption, are calculated using harmonised and science-based methodologies. 

For feed manufacturers and livestock producers, GFLI validation offers trusted, comparable data that can be integrated into their own environmental reporting and product formulations.

According to Innovafeed, the validation process took nearly 18 months and involved a rigorous third-party review. The verified LCA data covers four key components: energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, and waste generation. 

With this confirmation, customers can now rely on independently reviewed data showing how Innovafeed’s production model performs across these environmental indicators.

“We are extremely proud to join this global database after nearly 18 months of a rigorous validation and review process,” said Enzo Ballestra, Chief of Staff and Impact Manager. “Beyond our internal impact communications, this recognition gives our model global, harmonised legitimacy across the entire industry.”

For the company, this milestone strengthens its technical credibility and positions its products as measurable, low-impact alternatives to conventional feed ingredients such as fishmeal and soy. 

“This major milestone, eagerly awaited by all our customers, provides tangible proof of the impact of Innovafeed’s model, a model designed to transform agri-food value chains and accelerate their transition toward more resilient and responsible systems,” added Maye Walraven, Chief Business Officer and Chief Impact Officer.

Expansion into fertiliser markets

Beyond protein and oil, the GFLI validation also includes frass, the nutrient-rich organic by-product of insect farming. 

Frass functions as a natural fertiliser, improving soil health while reducing reliance on synthetic chemical inputs. By converting agricultural by-products into protein and oil for feed, and returning frass to the soil, Innovafeed strengthens its circular economy model.

The global insect frass fertiliser market is expanding rapidly. Estimates value the sector at around USD 600 million in 2024, projected to reach USD 1.5 billion by 2033 at a roughly 10.5% CAGR. Other forecasts place the market at USD 2.5 billion in 2024, growing to USD 6.4 billion by 2032, with an approximate 12.5% CAGR. Demand is driven by organic farming, regenerative agriculture, and the push to reduce synthetic fertiliser use.

Competitive landscape: Ÿnsect and Protix

Competitors such as Ÿnsect and Protix are also scaling insect-based solutions, though with different strategic focuses.

Ÿnsect concentrates heavily on mealworm-based ingredients for aquaculture, pet food, and plant nutrition, emphasising premium positioning and vertical farming technology. 

Protix, based in the Netherlands, focuses on black soldier fly ingredients for feed and pet food, with strong messaging around circular agriculture and waste valorisation.

While both companies publish sustainability metrics and promote circular production models, public confirmation of GFLI-validated branded data is a differentiator currently highlighted by Innovafeed. 

As the insect protein sector matures, third-party-verified environmental data is becoming a key market positioning tool, shifting competition from concept-driven sustainability claims to measurable, standardised performance benchmarks.

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