INTERVIEW Alternative Proteins Magazine October 2025 55 standards. The full project completion is expected by 2028. It is stated that approximately 60% of the mealworm production from the farm will be used in aquafeed. In this context, how do you ensure the quality and suitability of your products for aquafeed? If available, could you share examples of tests or studies conducted? Modern aquaculture faces a problem of sustainability due to its reliance on ingredients like fishmeal and fish oil (sourced from fishing) and certain vegetable sources. These ingredients not only deplete resources and contribute to deforestation, but often fail to meet the full nutritional requirements of fish and crustaceans. The ingredients we produce, based on mealworm protein and oil, offer a genuinely sustainable alternative. Our approach is modular: We optimize every stage of the value chain—from the feeding and rearing conditions of the larvae to the transformation processes—to ensure the final ingredients precisely meet the nutritional needs of our clients' animals. All this is done while guaranteeing total traceability of the process and maximum quality. Beyond production, we conduct exhaustive characterization of our ingredients and validate their application through laboratory and field trials in collaboration with clients, universities, and leading technological centers. We have participated in key initiatives like the ACUISOST research project (funded by NextGeneration EU Funds), where we formulated feeds with our ingredients that were successfully validated in trials with trout and gilthead sea bream, showing excellent results across different growth stages and in situations of biotic and abiotic stress. Currently, we are part of the European SAFE project (funded by Horizon Europe), which aims to develop circular aquaculture production systems. In this project, aquaculture production waste is used to feed the mealworm, which is then used to produce fish feed that re-enters the cycle. We are specifically validating the use of our ingredients in freshwater species such as trout, salmon, carp, and perch. One of the most ambitious aspects of the new facility is the goal of achieving a negative carbon footprint. What technologies and processes are you implementing to this end? What solutions are you envisioning in terms of renewable energy, circular economy, or waste management? During the construction of oFarm, an advanced resource utilization strategy has been incorporated that reinforces the company's commitment to a negative carbon footprint. Instead of discarding the materials extracted during the construction work, we have reused the gravel and soil waste as construction material, reducing external transport and the use of new resources. In addition, all the energy used will come from 100% renewable and self-consumed sources, thanks to a photovoltaic installation that will triple energy self-sufficiency. oFarm will be located in the Puerto Seco of Salamanca (Spain), an intermodal logistics platform connected to the railway network and the main communication routes of the Atlantic Corridor. This location will optimize the transport of raw materials and final products, reducing logistics-related emissions by 30%. This model is complemented by a circular economy that generates zero waste, saves up to 98% of water, and reduces emissions by more than 90% compared to traditional livestock farming, positioning Tebrio as a global leader in green biotechnology and industrial sustainability. This facility will be one of the pioneering projects applying large-scale automation to insect production. How will automation increase production efficiency, and what technical or logistical challenges did you encounter when designing the process? Our facility will be one of the pioneering projects applying large-scale automation to insect production. This automation will significantly increase production efficiency through several factors: It will allow for higher working frequency, contribute to cost optimization, and result in more regular and therefore more controllable processes, which will optimize all
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