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Tyson Foods Diversifies: Enters Insect Farming for Sustainable Feed Production

ByAlki David

Oct 28, 2023

In a strategic move towards sustainable practices, Tyson Foods has recently disclosed its venture into insect farming through a partnership with Protix, a pioneering company based in the Netherlands. The major player in the food industry plans not only to invest but also to establish a cutting-edge facility in the United States, signaling a significant shift in its approach to animal feed production.

The focus of this collaboration centers on the cultivation of black soldier flies, nurtured on a diet primarily composed of animal waste. While initially earmarked for pet, poultry, and fish food, the decision reflects a broader trend championed by environmentalists advocating for insects as a sustainable dietary alternative worldwide.

Tyson Foods, renowned for its beef, pork, and chicken products, is not introducing insects into its protein lineup just yet. However, there’s a clear indication that the company’s meat production will become intricately connected with the cultivation of edible insects. The upcoming Protix factory will utilize byproducts from slaughtered animals—ranging from hides to stomach contents and inedible tissues—to nourish the burgeoning insect population.

This move seems to align with Tyson’s strategy to extract value from waste products that would otherwise be discarded, providing an avenue for additional revenue. Far from imposing insect-based products on consumers, the investment in Protix positions Tyson Foods at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, tapping into innovative solutions for responsible resource utilization.

As the world grapples with the need for more eco-friendly practices, Tyson Foods’ foray into insect farming signifies a proactive step towards a circular economy. By repurposing animal byproducts to sustainably cultivate insects, the company demonstrates its commitment to minimizing waste and contributing to a more environmentally conscious food production system.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.