MASŁOMIĄCA, POLAND — Biotech company Proteine Resources recently introduced its innovative beef substitute for pet food using an insect-protein production method. According to the company, the product is the “world’s first” of its kind.

According to Proteine Resources, this breakthrough stems from years of intensive R&D and delivers a fully functional 100% beef analog based on entoproteins. Unlike lab-cultured meat or precision fermentation, it can rapidly scale to mass production, promising real impact on global food security without compromising nutrition or affordability, according to the biotech company.

Source: Proteine Resources

Made of 70% protein, the ingredient is a high-quality, stable 1:1 beef meat replacement containing amino acids, vitamin B12, probiotics and Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. Made without chemicals or GMOs, the ingredient is also hypoallergenic and offers a palatable taste and texture, according to Proteine Resources. 

“We went beyond a simple beef analog to add real functional value,” said Konrad Włodarczyk, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Proteine Resources. “By replacing just 20% of traditional meat with our analog, we can eliminate allergies in many animals. Consumers still get the familiar beef or lamb product, only healthier, while pet food producers benefit from higher margins and lower costs.”

Proteine Resources does insect farming a little differently — by running its entire breeding cycle in the dark, cutting the production time to just four weeks. It also automates its facilities which slashes resource consumption and lowers greenhouse emissions well beyond the reduction typical insect or plant-based proteins provide, according to the company.

“Biotech/deeptech projects require time and significant investment in development and commercialization,” said Bartłomiej Roszkowski, co-CEO of Proteine Resources. “Last year’s [funding] round accelerated our growth, enabling us to achieve over 80% of our goals quickly. We aim for the next round to propel us even further.”

After a productive 2024, Proteine Resources is building its first full-scale pilot factory in Poland and expanding R&D in Krakow. With five letters of intent already signed and declared demand for annual production, the company aims to sign its first contracts soon and secure €3 million ($3.2 million USD) in “off-take agreements” by mid-2026. 

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