EntoSus

EntoSus GmbH, founded in May 2020, operates in the alternative protein market, focusing on producing food products from insects. The company was established by agricultural engineer Florian Berendt and food technologist Melanie Christians. Their shared background in organic farming and food processing spurred the vision for a certified, sustainable cricket farm in Bremen, Germany. The founders' journey began with Berendt's interest in insects as a sustainable protein source, which he pursued as a consultant starting in 2019 before formalizing the company. Initial funding was secured through a successful crowdfunding campaign on Startnext in 2020, which helped establish the pilot farm and an online shop.

The core of EntoSus's business is its cricket farm in Bremen, described as Europe's first to be certified organic by Naturland, operating on a circular economy model. The crickets are fed with residual materials from regional organic mills and supermarkets. In turn, the waste from the insect farming process is repurposed as agricultural fertilizer. This approach significantly reduces the environmental footprint compared to traditional livestock farming, requiring substantially less water and feed while producing only a fraction of the greenhouse gases.

EntoSus manufactures and sells a variety of insect-based food products directly to consumers via its online store and through select supermarkets and organic shops. The product lineup includes ready-to-eat snacks like roasted crickets in various flavors, protein bars, spreads, and cooking sauces. They also offer ingredients for home cooking, such as cricket flour and textured cricket protein mince, which can be used as a meat substitute. These products are presented as a healthy and sustainable alternative to conventional meat, rich in protein, vitamins (especially B12), minerals, and healthy fatty acids. The business model encompasses the entire value chain, from breeding and processing the crickets to direct sales and distribution. In October 2024, EntoSus also took over the brand Beneto, expanding its product portfolio to include items like high-protein insect-based pasta.

Keywords: insect protein, cricket farming, sustainable food, circular economy, food technology, alternative protein, organic food, meat substitute, ento-nutrition, direct-to-consumer, food processing, sustainable agriculture, cricket flour, edible insects, Naturland certified, protein-rich foods, eco-friendly food, food innovation, Bremen, future food