{"id":419756,"date":"2026-01-04T12:57:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T11:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419756"},"modified":"2026-01-04T12:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T11:57:08","slug":"surprise-a-600-million-insect-protein-animal-feed-business-just-went-bankrupt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419756","title":{"rendered":"Surprise! A $600 Million Insect Protein Animal Feed Business Just Went Bankrupt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Close-up<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A French insect farming startup that specialized in producing mealworm-based protein primarily for animal feed (aquaculture, livestock, and poultry) and pet food, with some exploration into fertilizers and limited human applications.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by<\/strong> Eric Worrall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First published JoNova<\/a>, Tom Nelson<\/a> \u2013 Even starving dogs wouldn\u2019t eat their product?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How reality crushed \u0178nsect, the French startup that had raised over $600M for insect farming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Heim<\/a>
2:52 PM PST \u00b7 December 26, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French startup \u0178nsect<\/a> shot into the spotlight when \u201cIron Man\u201d star Robert Downey Jr. touted its merits<\/a> on the \u201cLate Show\u201d during Super Bowl weekend 2021. Now, nearly four years later, the insect farming company has been placed into judicial liquidation<\/a> \u2014 essentially bankruptcy \u2014 for insolvency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.@RobertDowneyJr<\/a> teaches us about insect protein. @fp_coalition<\/a> @ynsect<\/a> #LSSCSuperBowlSpecial<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wZI31TVOYT<\/a><\/p>— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 8, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>