Adapted from a press release
According to the company, Hilucia embodies the combination of the exceptional upcycling capabilities of the Hermetia illucens larvae with the cutting-edge technology developed by Innovafeed’s teams. The Hilucia range covers its four main markets: pets, livestock, aquaculture and agriculture, noted Elizaveta Le Floch, chief business officer of Innovafeed.
The launch includes two new solutions:
- An insect protein for poultry and swine (monogastrics): Hilucia Protein for Monogastrics
- An insect oil for aquaculture: Hilucia Oil for Aqua
Innovafeed said Hermetia illucens larvae transform low-value plant-based raw materials into high-quality nutrients with unparalleled efficiency: they use 1.5 kg of dry feed to produce 1 kg of body mass in just 15 days.
Leveraging these capabilities, Innovafeed has created a model of “industrial symbiosis” that maximizes the natural productivity of Hermetia illucens larvae. This model is based on the clustering of facilities with suppliers of the two main inputs required for insect rearing: agricultural coproducts for larval feed and energy. The facilities are directly connected by pipelines, which significantly reduces environmental impact, transport needs and production costs.
Ingredients with low environmental impact
The ingredients of the Hilucia range aim to meet the growing demand for high-quality food products – it is estimated that global protein demand will increase by 40% by 2030 – while meeting sustainability requirements, both in resource use and CO2 emissions.
Innovafeed noted it is working to provide nutritional solutions that offer the best possible zootechnical performance. Furthermore, a lifecycle analysis was conducted on the ingredients in the Hilucia range, and it was demonstrated that they generate at least 50% fewer carbon emissions compared to the most commonly used plant and animal proteins, oils and fertilizers on the market (such as fish meal, vegetable oils, poultry manure, etc.), while also having a lower impact on biodiversity, land use, and water consumption, said the company.
Pet food packaging partnership
With Hilucia, Innovafeed said it creates a simple and identifiable brand that signifies quality and sustainability, responding to consumers’ need for transparency. Innovafeed even offers customers the option to feature a “Powered by Hilucia” logo on their packaging.
“Partnering with Innovafeed marks a significant milestone in our journey to redefine pet nutrition," said Gabriel Huertas del Pino, cofounder and CEO of Arch Pet Food. "The Hilucia brand aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence, sustainability and innovation in the pet food industry and we’re proud to display the label and story directly to our customers on-pack in our new Smart Future Formula. Together, we’re setting new standards for what pet owners can expect, bringing a new era of quality, trust, and transparency to the table."
According to Pet Food Institute, in the U.S. alone, over 4 million tons of animal-derived products are currently used to formulate dry food or wet food.
