Nasekomo

Nasekomo is an agritech enterprise focused on the bioconversion of organic materials using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae. The company was established in 2017 by a team of co-founders: Xavier Marcenac, an experienced entrepreneur who previously built and sold a successful Business Process Outsourcing company; Olga Marcenac, who has an extensive background in finance and operations with companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers and GE Money; and Marc Bolard, a biologist with deep expertise in animal rearing. Xavier Marcenac's venture into this sector was driven by a desire to invest his resources and energy into a sustainable project after selling his previous company. Olga Marcenac contributes over two decades of experience in management and finance, holding an MBA from INSEAD. The founding team combined their business acumen with scientific knowledge to address the growing global demand for protein and the sustainability challenges in traditional feed production.

The core of Nasekomo's operation is the transformation of agricultural by-products, such as brewers' spent grains, into high-value products. This process yields three primary outputs: insect protein meal and insect oil, which serve as sustainable alternatives to fishmeal and soy in animal feed, and insect frass, a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer for agriculture. The company's initial target market is the pet food industry, with future plans to expand into aquaculture, pig, and poultry feed sectors. Nasekomo operates on a circular economy and zero-waste production model.

A key differentiator for Nasekomo is its technology-driven, franchise-based business model. Instead of owning and operating all production facilities, the company plans to scale by enabling franchisees with a turnkey solution. This package includes genetically selected BSF larvae, proprietary automated factory equipment, and a digital platform that uses AI and machine learning to monitor and optimize the bioconversion process. This approach is designed to accelerate the growth of the insect protein industry by providing newcomers with the necessary tools and expertise. The company has established a joint venture called Fly Genetics with Groupe Grimaud, an animal genetics specialist, to develop superior BSF strains bred for traits like higher growth rates and feed conversion efficiency. Nasekomo has also partnered with Siemens to enhance the automation and digitalization of its network of factories. The company operates an industrial demonstration facility, the Insect Center of Excellence (NICE), near Sofia, Bulgaria, which showcases its technology to potential partners. The first franchised factory is scheduled to begin operations in Bulgaria in 2025, with an ambitious goal to establish a network of 100 factories by 2030.

Keywords: insect protein, Black Soldier Fly, agritech, bioconversion, sustainable animal feed, circular economy, organic fertilizer, pet food ingredients, aquaculture feed, franchise model, animal genetics, automated farming, robotic agriculture, AI in agriculture, waste upcycling, protein alternatives, feed production, sustainable agriculture, FlyGenetics, biowaste processing