- An academic-industrial partnership supporting a French excellence sector, with the backing of Bpifrance and the “I-Démo” program
- A strategic project contributing to food sovereignty and green reindustrialization
Paris – March 30, 2026 – The FrenchFly project, led by IRBI and Innovafeed, aims to sustainably structure and strengthen the French Black Soldier Fly (BSF) sector by addressing the key scientific and technological challenges that still limit its large-scale industrial deployment. At a time when food sovereignty, decarbonization, and industrial relocation have become national priorities, FrenchFly stands out as a strategic initiative for the future of sustainable proteins in France.
Addressing France’s key strategic challenges
The FrenchFly consortium is built on an open, collaborative approach, fostering the sharing of scientific and technological advances for the benefit of the entire sector, notably through academic publications, specialized conferences, and the dissemination of results across European professional networks.
The insect sector indeed plays a key role in addressing several national priorities: food security and sovereignty, green reindustrialization, the creation of skilled industrial jobs across regions, and a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the agri-food industry.
In a context where some historical players in the sector are facing challenges, it is more important than ever to support structuring initiatives capable of completing the demonstration of the model and securing the future of this strategic industry for France.
A unique academic–industrial partnership
Innovafeed, now a global leader and a French industrial player capable of demonstrating a commercially viable model at scale, brings to the project its industrial deployment capabilities, operational expertise, and strategic vision for the sector.
Alongside it, IRBI, a leading research center in insect biology, provides a world-class scientific foundation to deepen the understanding of the Black Soldier Fly, optimize rearing conditions, assess its interactions with the environment, and strengthen the overall competitiveness of the sector through the generation of robust, open-access knowledge.
“The biology of insects is fascinating: at IRBI, we study how they grow, reproduce, and interact with both their peers and their environment. Thanks to FrenchFly, the different levels of insect biology, from genome to populations, are being integrated into food systems. The synergy with Innovafeed will provide precise insights to optimize the life cycle of this new farmed species while minimizing its environmental footprint.”
Christophe Bressac – Professor and Researcher in Biology and Ecology, University of Tours
“This partnership between Innovafeed and IRBI is a major accelerator for the generation of scientific knowledge. The synergy between our respective areas of expertise enables us to broaden and deepen our understanding of Hermetia illucens biology, while promoting the sharing and valorization of this knowledge for the benefit of the entire insect industry ecosystem.”
Mathieu Vanderstraete – Director of Innovafeed’s Research Center in Gouzeaucourt
About the project
This project has been funded by the French government as part of the France 2030 investment plan.
About IRBI
IRBI (Institute for Research on Insect Biology) is a leading academic research center dedicated to the study of insect development, physiology, and interactions with their environment.
Affiliated with the University of Tours and the CNRS, IRBI conducts research at the heart of major environmental and societal challenges. Leveraging state-of-the-art infrastructure and recognized scientific expertise, IRBI contributes to the development of innovative solutions supporting agricultural and industrial sectors based on insect science.
About Innovafeed
Innovafeed is a global AgTech pioneer (B Corp™, Next 40, Impact 40, World’s GreenTech Company 2025), specializing in the production of insects (Hermetia illucens — Black Soldier Fly) for animal and plant nutrition. As one of the world’s leading insect producers, Innovafeed develops cutting-edge technologies to replicate, at industrial scale, the natural processes of resource conversion.
By recreating a circular food chain in which insects regain their natural role within the ecosystem, the company contributes to building a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agri-food system.
Media contact Innovafeed
Nadège Audiffren
Head of Global Communications
+33 6 64 09 25 94
nadege.audiffren@innovafeed.com
