YNSECT

Their core work

YNSECT is a French biotech SME that breeds and processes mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) at industrial scale to produce premium proteins and lipids for fish feed, pet food, and plant nutrition. They operate vertically integrated "insect farms" built around automated storage and robotic rearing islands, turning low-value agricultural co-products into high-grade ingredients. Their FARMYNG flagship demonstrator is one of the world's first full-scale insect protein factories, designed to produce tens of thousands of tonnes per year. For partners, YNSECT is the reference point in Europe for scaling insect farming from lab to commercial reality.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Early H2020 work (Zelcor, 2016) placed YNSECT inside a lignocellulosic biorefinery consortium as a participant — likely scouting low-cost substrates for their insect rearing. By 2019 they flipped roles entirely, coordinating FARMYNG, a EUR 16 M industrial flagship built around mealworm breeding, robotic rearing islands, automated storage, and extrusion for fish-feed and pet-food markets. The arc is a clean progression from exploring bio-based inputs to running a full industrial demonstration.

YNSECT is moving from R&D partner to industrial operator, making them a partner of choice for anyone wanting to embed insect-derived ingredients into real supply chains rather than pilot studies.

How they like to work

YNSECT moved from a small participant role to coordinator of a 40+ partner flagship in a single step. They operate in large, multi-country consortia that mix food, feed, automation and bio-based industries. Partners should expect a company that sets the agenda with the discipline of a BBI flagship lead, not a passive co-applicant.

They have connected with 44 unique partners across 12 countries in just two H2020 projects, most of that network built through the FARMYNG flagship. The footprint is strongly European with a centre of gravity around France and Northern/Western EU food and bio-based industry clusters.

What sets them apart

Very few European SMEs have gone from biorefinery participant to coordinator of a EUR 16 M industrial flagship inside three years. YNSECT combines mealworm biology, heavy process engineering (extrusion, robotic rearing, automated storage) and a sharp B2B focus on aquafeed and pet food. For anyone who needs an industrial-scale insect protein partner in Europe rather than another pilot lab, this is the reference name.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FARMYNG
  EUR 16 M BBI flagship where YNSECT coordinates 40+ partners to demonstrate the first industrial-scale mealworm protein factory in Europe.
• Zelcor
  Earlier biorefinery project that shows YNSECT's interest in low-cost lignocellulosic feedstocks as inputs for insect rearing.