Proti-Farm is an insect formula manufacturer based in The Netherlands. Read our review today to find out everything you need to know about Proti-Farm.
What Is Proti-Farm?
Proti-Farm is a Netherlands-based company specializing in producing large quantities of sustainable, high quality insect ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industry. The company traces its roots back to 1978, when a company called Kreca was founded.
That company grew to become one of the world’s leaders in insect formulas. In 2015, Proti-Farm acquired all Kreca activities. Now, they’re increasing production across the board.
Today, Proti-Farm continues to produce more than ten species of insects for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Those insects include different species of mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets, and cockroaches.
Starting in 2017, the company plans to rapidly expand facilities worldwide.
Proti-Farm’s end products include whole insects, protein powders (isolated, concentrated, and hydrolyzed), and (refined) lipids under the brand name EntoPure.
You can purchase whole insects and powdered insects from the company’s online store today.
Why Insects?
Insects have become a trendy ingredient in recent years. Some people like insects because they’re a vegetarian source of protein and nutrients. Others like insects because they’re sustainable and highly efficient to produce.Some believe they’re the food source of the future.
To reinforce that idea, the Proti-Farm official website features stats claiming there are 747 million undernourished people in the world as well as 617 million people with no access to a safe drinking water source.
Each year, the planet emits 7 billion tons of CO2 emissions – and the population continues to grow. Proti-Farm believes it can impact these problems by producing insect-based formulas and supplements.
Some of the company’s goals include:
- Eradicate poverty and hunger
- Improve healthy nutrition
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Protect natural resources
- Responsible production and consumption
Proti-Farm Products, Formulas, And Supplements
Proti-Farm offers five core formulas and supplements to the marketplace, including all of the following:
- Ento Pure Protein Isolate: Pure, defatted protein powder from the lesser mealworm.
- Ento Pure Protein Powder: Dried and grounded protein powder made from the lesser mealworm.
- Ento Pure Purified Oil: Purified oil from the lesser mealworm.
- Ento Pure Chitin Powder: Purified chitin powder from the lesser mealworm.
- Ento Pure Proti-Fertilizer: Dried rest-streams from the lesser mealworm.
- Ento Pure Whole Dried Larvae: Whole dried larvae from the lesser mealworm.
Clearly, most of Proti-Farm’s current supplements and formulas come from the lesser mealworm, also known as Alphitobius diaperinus.
The company has chosen that particular mealworm “due to its excellent and complete amino acids, vitamins, minerals, digestibility and short production time thanks to in-house and yearlong sustainable breeding and rearing methods”.
The lesser mealworm is also a surprisingly strong source of protein. In fact, their protein and fatty acid structure is similar to beef.
Larvae consist of 35% dry matter. 60 to 85% of that dry matter is crude protein.
To maximize the health of their lesser mealworms, Proti-Farm feeds its insects only vegetable streams and GMP+ certified feed.
They do not use any antibiotics, chemicals, or hormones. And, each batch is traced from the birth of the animal until the final product leaves factories.
Benefits of Proti-Farm Supplements
For some people, adding mealworm protein to a supplement is a gross idea. However, insect and mealworm supplements come with some genuinely powerful benefits. Some of the advantages include:
Lactose Free:
Insects are lactose free while still providing high levels of protein, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants, which can make them a great alternative to heathy dairy products like milk and yogurt.
Sugar Free:
Sugar is not added to Proti-Farm supplements. Sugar adds empty calories to western diets, explains the Proti-Farm official website. That’s why Proti-Farm can recommend its formulas as healthy snacks or healthy additions to existing meals.
Gluten Free:
Gluten free diets are becoming increasingly popular. Proti-Farm’s formulas are gluten free, including lesser mealworms, mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers. Proti-Farm claims their insects are audited by independent certified laboratories to ensure their gluten free status.
Low Salt:
Salt, like sugar, has been a harmful addition to the western diet. Proti-Farm’s insects are rich with protein, iron, and calcium without providing high levels of salt.
Clean Protein:
Proti-Farm prides itself on offering a clean source of protein. Many types of protein are derived from sources that are either grow or bred using chemicals and antibiotics, then fed with modified fattening ingredients. Proti-Farm takes a different approach. Its insects are free of chemicals and antibiotics and are fed GMP+ certified feed.
Ultimately, eating insect-based protein powder might not sound very tasty. However, due to the advantages listed above, Proti-Farm is estimating increased demand over the coming years.
Proti-Farm Pricing
Proti-Farm has an online store where you can buy its insects in the form of a bulk insect powder or in the form of whole insects. Here’s how products and prices break down online:
Whole Insects
Buffalo Worms
Buffalo worms provide a high concentration of protein (all 9 essential amino acids) while also being rich with essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants.
- Freeze-dried Buffalo Worms (25g): €3,70
- Freeze-dried Buffalo Worms (50g): €5,79
Crickets
Proti-Farm sells two types of crickets: house crickets and banded crickets. Both are a source of high quality nutrients. The insects contain a high concentration of proteins (all 9 essential amino acids) and are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Products include:
- Freeze-dried Banded Crickets (20g): €5,75
- Freeze-dried Banded Crickets (40g): €9,95
- Freeze-dried House Crickets (40g): €13,95
- Freeze-dried House Crickets (20g): €7,75
Grasshoppers
Proti-Farm sells a lineup of grasshoppers (Locusta migratoria), which are also an excellent source of high quality nutrients. They contain a high concentration of proteins (all 9 essential amino acids) along with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Products include:
- Freeze-dried Adult Grasshoppers (20g): €10,59
- Freeze-dried Medium Grasshoppers (38g): €15,95
- Freeze-dried Adult Grasshoppers (10g): €6,25
- Freeze-dried Medium Grasshoppers (19g): €8,75
Mealworms
Proti-Farm’s mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) provide a rich concentration of protein (with all 9 essential amino acids) and are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Products include:
- Freeze-dried Mealworms (25g): €3,75
- Freeze-dried Mealworms (50g): €5,89
Insect Powder
Buffalo Worms
The powder has a high protein content, low carbohydrate profile, and is free from sugar and lactose.
- Buffalo Worms Powder (100g): €12,75
Crickets
Cricket powder contains all 9 essential amino acids and has high digestibility.
- Powder Banded Crickets (100g): €25,95
- Powder House Crickets (100g): €35,96
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are a complete protein source. In powder form, they’re highly digestible.
- Powder Grasshoppers (100g): €49,50
Mealworms
Mealworms are a complete source of protein containing all 9 essential amino acids. They also have a high digestibility.
- Powder Mealworms (100g): €12,95
You can buy the company’s products online using PayPal, iDeal, VISA, or MasterCard.
About Proti-Farm
Proti-Farm is based at the following address in the Netherlands:
Oude Telgterweg 270
3853 PK Ermelo, The Netherlands
You can contact the company by phone at +31 (0)341 557769 or by email at [email protected].
Stay tuned for more information about Proti-Farm as the company continues to expand operations throughout 2017!
