Remember when the World Economic Forum told us that the world could be “conditioned” to eat insects as a primary source of protein? Now comes news that Tyson Foods, an Arkansas-based U.S. food corporation, has invested heavily in Protix, a provider of insect ingredients based in The Netherlands.
The two companies plan to build a U.S.-based factory, which will make insects into food for pets, poultry, and fish. But don’t worry, Tyson officials assure us that they will not be putting insects into our food … at least not yet.
“Today, we’re focused on more of [an] ingredient application with insect protein than we are a consumer application,” said Tyson CFO John R. Tyson.
Tyson’s press release announcing the investment, however, is filled with UN buzzwords, which makes one think that the merger might be ESG-inspired.
“The strategic investment will support the growth of the emerging insect ingredient industry and expand the use of insect ingredient solutions to create more efficient sustainable proteins and lipids for use in the global food system,” the press release declares.
“Through a direct equity investment, Tyson Foods will acquire a minority stake in Protix to help fund its global expansion. In addition, Tyson Foods and Protix have entered a joint venture for the operation and construction of an insect ingredient facility in the continental United States,” the press release continued. “Upon completion, it will be the first at-scale facility of its kind to upcycle food manufacturing byproducts into high-quality insect proteins and lipids which will primarily be used in the pet food, aquaculture, and livestock industries.”
“Our partnership with Protix represents the latest strategic investment by Tyson Foods in groundbreaking solutions that drive added value to Tyson Foods’ business,” Tyson said. “The insect lifecycle provides the opportunity for full circularity within our value chain, strengthening our commitment to building a more sustainable food system for the future.”
The plant intends to use animal waste from Tyson’s stock of chickens, cows, pigs, etc., as a food source for the new insect-protein plant.
Protix CEO Kees Aarts said, “We can immediately use their existing byproducts as feedstock for our insects.”
According to Tyson, the investment is a way of getting the most they can out of their existing business.
“One feature of being in the animal protein business is having to figure out … how to derive value from [animal] waste,” Tyson said. “We saw this as an extension of our existing business.”
Since Tyson only offers products for human consumption, one has to wonder exactly what they mean by the phrase “extension of our existing business.” Are they set to branch out from making only human foods to making food for animals? Or is their new insect-protein facility destined to begin making “insect ingredients” for human food?
At the risk of sounding alarmist, this business venture sounds a bit like some of the “conditioning” the World Economic Forum mentioned. How long will it be until Tyson’s family of products includes breaded chicken infused with insect protein?
