CricketFarm

CricketFarm Co. Ltd. was a Japanese FoodTech venture that operated an edible cricket farming and processing business. Founded in August 2021 by serial entrepreneur Daisuke Tsuboi, the company was established in Okaya, Nagano Prefecture, a region with a historical connection to insect consumption. Tsuboi, previously successful in the IT and blockchain industry, pivoted to address future food security and protein shortage issues driven by global population growth. CricketFarm was established as a new venture of the INDETAIL group, an IT firm from Sapporo where Tsuboi was also the founder.

The company developed a proprietary "smart farming system" that utilized IoT, sensors, and AI to automate and manage breeding conditions such as temperature and humidity, aiming for stable, large-scale production with a small workforce. This system was designed to raise crickets in an environment close to nature without relying on genetic modification. In 2022, the company expanded by opening a larger "smart" factory and a direct sales outlet in Chino, Nagano. CricketFarm's business model involved producing edible crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus), processing them into a fine powder, and developing its own branded consumer products. These products, which included protein powder, pound cakes, and seasoned salt, were marketed as a "next-generation nutritional ingredient" rather than just insect food, with the powder containing over 70% protein. The products were also available as tax-deductible gifts in Okaya and Chino cities.

The startup secured over 73 million JPY in funding in late 2022 through a combination of equity crowdfunding and coordinated loans from financial institutions to fuel its expansion and marketing efforts. Despite its technological approach and initial funding, CricketFarm ceased operations and went bankrupt in early 2024, reportedly due to challenges in overcoming public resistance to entomophagy and establishing a viable market for its products.

Keywords: edible crickets, entomophagy, foodtech, alternative protein, sustainable food, IoT farming, insect farming, smart agriculture, Daisuke Tsuboi, protein powder, food security, circular economy, INDETAIL, Nagano, venture, startup, cricket powder, sustainable protein, food production, animal protein alternative