Salamanca, SPAIN — Tebrio, a biotechnology company specializing in the production and transformation of mealworms into valuable ingredients, officially broke ground on its new facility in Salamanca. According to the company, the facility will be the largest insect farm in the world, spanning a total of 90,000 square meters (about 968,752 square feet). 

The new plant, called oFarm, will be constructed in six phases, five for insect breeding and one for processing. It will allow Tebrio reach an annual capacity of more than 100,000 tons of insect-based products, including high-quality protein and lipids for pet food and animal feed, and organic biofertilizers and chitosan for use in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and bioplastics industries. 

“The construction of our new plant represents a milestone not only for Tebrio, but also for the entire biotechnology sector,” said Adriana Casillas, chief executive officer and co-founder of Tebrio. “This project reflects our vision to lead a shift towards a more sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly industry. oFarm responds to the growing global demand for sustainable and 100% innovative solutions for the agri-food industry.”

In addition to producing sustainable ingredients, the facility itself will be constructed with the environment top of mind. The plant will be powered by renewable solar energy. According to Tebrio, this will triple its current percentage of energy self-sufficiency. Additionally, gravel and soil waste generated during construction will be reused as construction materials for the facility. 

The facility will generate 150 direct jobs and 1,350 indirect jobs, according to Tebrio. Construction on the first phase is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2025, with the entire project expected to be completed in 2028. Tebrio’s total investment in the project will be around €110 million ($113.18 million USD). In November, the company held a funding round to support the construction of the new facility. 

012125_Tebrio ground-breaking_Embedded.jpgSource: Tebrio

The ground-breaking event was attended by Casillas and Sabas de Diego, co-founder and chief technical officer of Tebrio, as well as Juan Cruz, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities of the Spanish Government; Andrés Ubierna, head of the Capitalization and Technology Transfer Division of the CDTI; María González Corral, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Castilla y León; and Carlos García-Carbayo, Mayor of Salamanca. 

Since its founding in 2014, Tebrio has been dedicated to a zero-waste model of insect production, seeking to minimize environmental impact. The company breeds and processes the Tenebrio molitor insect, known as mealworms. According to Tebrio, its process does not involve air or soil pollution and the insect does not emit methane, ammonia or other chemical compounds. 

In line with its focus on sustainability, the company is an active member of the United Nations Global Compact and is committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The company is also a recognized B Corp and Casillas is an ambassador for the European Climate Pact. 

With the new facility, Tebrio aims to achieve a negative carbon footprint, as it is currently on track to achieve a zero carbon footprint by 2030. 

“Laying the first stone of this project here in Salamanca has a special meaning for us. It is a tribute to our roots and the road we have traveled together with our community,” Casillas said. “This project will not only have a global impact, but will also continue to strengthen the local and regional economy.”

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