Kees is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of Protix. Kees is a frequent speaker at international forums, and he is widely recognised as a visionary and innovator in the food and feed industry thanks to his work in reimagining global food supply chains. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Future Council on Food Security and Agriculture. Prior to founding Protix, Kees started his career as an advisor at McKinsey on R&D innovation and business development. Kees holds a MSc title in Aerospace Engineering.
You have a rich career in the industry. What initially led you to this field?
I have always had an interest in biology and the natural world. In 2009, I conceived the idea of creating more sustainable feed with insect ingredients and started working on this with a partner. We had a big vision, right from the outset.
We were convinced that insect ingredients could offer a more sustainable food system, but we had to pretty much create the whole industry from scratch. We first had to identify the right insect which turned out to be the black soldier fly. We invested a lot of time talking to scientists, feed producers, farmers and potential investors to understand the benefits and feasibility of this.
In 2010 we secured considerable funding and that’s how we started with our black soldier fly products. There was no technical or legal framework for the breeding and processing of insects. We had to establish the right conditions, machinery and methodologies. We had to make changes to legislation, and we initiated and co-founded IPIFF – the International Forum for Insects for Food and Feed. As hard-working pioneers, we persistently built an industry that didn’t yet exist. We are happy to have won a raft of awards along the way in recognition of our achievements and determination.
Our mission is to change the feed and food system so that it is back in balance with nature. That calls for a collaborative approach not just by working together on formulations that deliver proven benefits, but also in research and education and providing inspiration to further unlock the vast possibilities of insect products. We actively take part in myriad studies with universities and customers, and also work with our customers to generate scientific data that help pet owners to make informed choices. We believe that our current leading position in the industry is thanks to our partnership mindset.
Could you elaborate on the journey of Protix and insect ingredients within the petfood segment, particularly highlighting the evolution from initial scientific studies to the current market presence?
Petfood was a natural segment to start investigating for a couple of reasons. Firstly, almost every animal, including pets, consumes insects at some point in their life cycle. Secondly, pet owners increasingly express concern for the planet’s future, driving them to make sustainable changes. Black soldier fly ingredients have been proven to significantly reduce the environmental impact compared to ingredients used traditionally. Multiple Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) show this.
Our starting point was to first examine the feasibility of incorporating our insect ingredients into petfood. We needed to determine whether our insect meal, oil and puree were compatible in formulations and could provide the right nutritional profile. We carried out fundamental studies on the nutritional value and acceptance by animals. These studies, conducted independently or in collaboration with partners such as the Wageningen University, affirm the palatability for dogs and cats and demonstrate high nutritional and functional value when incorporated in petfood.
Our science-based approach continues to guide Protix today, with a focus now on the health benefits of insect ingredients. We are delving deeper into various health areas, including oral health, gut health, skin condition, and beyond. Black soldier fly ingredients offer a delicious array of potential health benefits and opportunities for pet food manufacturers and we look forward to further unleashing the endless potential of insect ingredients.
4. Can you discuss some of the innovative applications of insect ingredients in pet food and animal nutrition, and how these products contribute to overall health goals?
Insect ingredients are being included across an ever-expanding range of pet products such as wet and dry food, and (functional) treats. Numerous studies report exciting health benefits. A recently published canine oral health study shows that volatile sulphur compound (VSC)-producing bacteria in dental plaque are reduced and oral microbiota is positively modulated when incorporating our black soldier fly protein, ProteinX. The upshot is less dental decay and dogs with sweeter-smelling breath too.
Another innovation is the launch of fresh PureeX, an appetising fresh insect meat that adds new dimensions to freshness. Thanks to straightforward rapid processing with a minimum number of steps, fresh PureeX is an ingredient which is low in biogenic amines, a commonly used measure of freshness. In two studies with PureeX, researchers found a stronger antioxidant activity compared to commonly-used pet food ingredients. In the competitive pet market where consumers want to keep their pets healthier for longer, the higher antioxidant activity of fresh PureeX delivers a potential added benefit. These are just a few examples of how we continue to lead with new products and applications.
5. Looking ahead, what are Protix’s future plans and ambitions in terms of scaling up production, expanding market reach, and further advancing research and development in the field of insect-based nutrition for both pets and livestock?
We are very excited to be scaling up our production internationally. We recently secured funding of up to €37 million from the European Investment Bank to establish a new plant in Poland. We have also entered into a joint venture with Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food companies. This is a landmark for the insect industry as a whole and will help us to accelerate our mission to bring the food system back into balance with nature. Research and collaboration are in our DNA, and we will continue to forge strong partnerships to unlock the full potential of the pet food and livestock markets.
6. Could you elaborate on the environmental benefits of using insect ingredients compared to traditional feed and food sources, particularly in terms of land use, water consumption, and carbon emissions reduction?
Our ethos right from the outset was to reduce the environmental footprint by developing insect ingredients as a viable alternative. The independent German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) has conducted Life Cycle Assessments on our products. The latest results, just published show that, per kilo, ProteinX accounts for 78 percent fewer CO2 emissions than poultry meal, LipidX uses 99 percent less land than poultry fat and PureeX uses 99.8 percent less water than poultry meat.
The assessments were carried out with our plant running at full capacity so we can be confident these are not theoretical calculations. We are achieving these sustainability figures every day. Every kilogram of our products used in pet food, animal feed, or organic fertiliser represents a tangible step towards a healthier planet, for Protix, its customers, and for all of us.
We will continue to work with industry stakeholders to further reduce the footprint of innovative products that are good for pets and good for the planet.