April 18, 2024 – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined ADM, Innovafeed, and local elected officials to celebrate the historic opening of Innovafeed’s North American Insect Innovation Center (NAIIC) in Decatur.
“Innovative, exciting new approaches to agricultural and environmental challenges are what Illinois is all about, from the invention of the farm silo to global leaders like Innovafeed,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This expansion, perfectly situated in Illinois’ rich corn country, is yet another commitment from a global business to Illinois as a place to grow and continue to innovate. Innovafeed is part of a growing Illinois business economy that is far from done expanding”
The facility is Innovafeed’s first in North America and part of their larger effort to scale up production and commercialization of insect protein in the United States. The plant is adjacent to ADM’s Decatur corn complex, with complementary infrastructure that will allow ADM to directly provide corn by-products to supply Innovafeed’s innovative insect-rearing process, as well as waste heat and steam.
“Innovafeed’s decision to open their first North American production plant in Illinois is a testament to what makes our state the best place to work and do business,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Not only will the North American Insect Innovation Center’s one-of-a-kind technology help advance the state’s agricultural industry, but it will also create good paying jobs and expand opportunities for Illinois farmers and Decatur’s local workforce.”
As part of the new facility investment, the company received an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit, which specifies a minimum capital investment of 7.9 million. A link to the full agreement can be found here.
Innovafeed breeds Hermetia illucens, also known as black soldier flies, in state-of-the-art indoor farms, while repurposing agricultural by-products from its strategic partner, ADM. This innovative process yields insect meal, oil, and soil amendment, which Innovafeed markets under the brand Hilucia™.
Insect feed has become an increasingly popular protein ingredient for agriculture and aquaculture industries, as demand for animal feed has now reached an all-time high and consumers look for food that is sustainably and responsibly grown.
“We are thrilled to partner with Innovafeed on this exciting project that highlights our commitment to responsible and sustainable sourcing. Our collaboration is a great example of how we are constantly seeking innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for alternative protein sources in animal and pet products. By expanding our value chain and offering collaboration opportunities to leading, innovative partners, we are positioning ADM as the provider of choice for responsible, sustainable materials across the food, beverage, feed, fuel, consumer product and industrial spaces. We are proud to be a part of this job-creating project and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our communities,” said ADM Senior Vice President and President of ADM’s Carbohydrate Solutions business, Chris Cuddy.
US General Manager for Innovafeed, Maye Walraven, added “As the project expands, we believe Innovafeed can benefit from a strongly qualified local workforce, as well as contribute to developing new skills specific to our innovative industry. Furthermore, we envision Decatur as a promising hub for innovation with many opportunities for collaboration between Innovafeed and the neighboring projects that have recently been announced in the area”.
“Launching our first U.S. operation in Decatur holds profound significance, especially in light of the burgeoning demand for sustainable protein sources across agriculture, pet food, and aquaculture industries. Decatur’s strategic location amidst the Midwest corn belt, coupled with our partnership with ADM and other agribusiness leaders, positions us to leverage abundant corn by-products to fuel our black soldier fly production. This circular process not only aligns with our mission (to advance sustainable food systems) but also contributes to the US Department of Energy’s objectives of decarbonizing the industrial sector,” said Clément Ray, CEO of Innovafeed.
“The inauguration of Innovafeed’s first U.S. location is another huge win for Decatur and is a prime example of what innovation and growth looks like in central Illinois,” said Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. “ The northeast quadrant of Decatur will look very different in the coming years, and we are excited to see the future of Innovafeed and other synergistic partners in the area.”
