A conversation with Sébastien Crépieux, founder of Invers, developing a decentralised insect farming supply chain for animal nutrition, placing farmers at the heart of the model. The role of animals and livestock in farming is something we cover frequently, but we’ve never discussed insects which can transform immense amounts of agricultural waste—such as leftovers from beer brewing or wheat milling—into high-quality protein and fats. Perhaps most importantly, their frass (manure) is an amazing fertilizer.

Of course, humans could consume insect protein directly, but in the Global North, this is rare and may take a long time to change. Insect protein is also an excellent poultry feed, but its greatest impact may be in aquaculture—specifically, fish feed. The immense destruction caused by industrial bottom-trawling fishing fleets is difficult to describe and comprehend. However, it’s safe to say that catching anchovies or krill for fish meal—to feed salmon and other fish—is highly inefficient and environmentally harmful.

With Sébastien we explore a decentralized approach to insect farming in France, one that focuses on putting farmers at the centre—not by reintegrating large ruminants into farms, but rather small mealworms. Why not go super-centralized with massive facilities and raise hundreds of millions of euros, as some other companies have done? Why hasn’t more insect meal been sold to the aquaculture sector to help reduce pressure on the oceans?