Bühler to develop commercial mealworm production plant for food-tech firm Divaks

Pictured: A rendering of the Divaks plant which Bühler will develop. Photo from Divaks and Bühler.

Insect producer Divaks (Vilnius, Lithuania) has selected technology group Bühler to build its first industrial-scale plant for commercially producing yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Slated to be operational in 2025, the facility will produce up to 15,000 tons of insect-derived products annually, the firms say.

Divaks has asked Bühler to plan and build the plant and to help organize the supply chain. The 10,000-sq-ft site will be located in Lithuania’s Marijampole Free Economic Zone.

Mealworms are a nutritious protein source that can serve as an alternative to meat and ingredients in product categories like sports nutrition, snacks, confectionery, and pet food. Mealworm protein is also environmentally friendly, and Divaks is furthering its eco-friendliness by using the residue from mealworm production as organic fertilizer.

“Bühler will be responsible for all process technology, which will include feedstock preparation to provide safe, palatable, and nourishing feed to the larvae and a fully automated larvae growth system with sophisticated climate control,” the firms’ press release states. “Furthermore, Bühler will provide the processing line to transform the harvested larvae into textured insect proteins (TIP), insect protein concentrates (IPC), and other specialized food ingredients.”