This milestone strengthens protein self-sufficiency and accelerates the shift toward sustainable, circular food production in Europe
Finnish biotech company Volare announces the closing of a €26 million funding round to build Volare 01 – a facility set to become the most efficient protein production plant in the world, and to advance its unique technology. Located in Pori, Finland, the facility will serve as a cornerstone in scaling Volare’s proprietary insect protein technology. This milestone strengthens protein self-sufficiency and accelerates the shift toward sustainable, circular food production in Europe. The round includes a mix of equity, mezzanine and senior loans, and public funding, with support from Maki.VC, Firstminute Capital, Springvest, The Finnish Climate Fund (to be merged with Finnish Industry Investment), Finnvera, Norion Bank, South Ostrobothnia ELY Centre and Business Finland.
The European Union is currently just 34 per cent self-sufficient in protein concentrates (containing more than 30 per cent protein), according to the European Commission, leaving the region heavily dependent on imports. This reliance makes the food system increasingly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and price fluctuations. Volare’s scalable, local production model addresses this challenge head-on by converting food industry byproducts into circular, insect-based protein. The approach reduces waste, supports regional agriculture, and strengthens the resilience and self-sufficiency of Europe’s food system.
At the core of Volare’s breakthrough is the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), nature’s most efficient bioreactor. These insects naturally convert food industry byproducts into high-value resources with exceptional efficiency. While such byproducts are often incinerated – wasting their potential – Volare upcycles them into premium insect protein, oil, and fertiliser through its proprietary zero-waste, fossil-free process. Leveraging a brownfield location, Volare offers a significantly more capital-efficient setup than greenfield builds. Several key technologies integrated into the process achieve a 30 per cent reduction in processing energy use and aim to cut hygienization energy use by 50 per cent, enabling operational expenditure (OPEX) performance unseen in the insect technology sector. This makes Volare’s system not only the most energy-efficient protein production platform available today but also a circular economy benchmark. Volare’s sustainable ingredients have already gained traction in aquafeed, pet food, and poultry feed, offering a scalable, proven alternative to environmentally intensive ingredients such as fishmeal, meat, and soy.
