Category: News & Media
On October 29, 2025, Nasekomo welcomed representatives from Phileo by Lesaffre – a world leader in yeast and microbial fermentation – to its Nasekomo Insect Center of Excellence (NICE) in Sofia.
The visit was the result of an enduring exchange and cooperation, initiated and developed by Marco Tejeda, Head of R&D at Nasekomo, and Juan Paredes, Phileo’s Global Species Manager – Insects. The collaboration began with a joint study of how selected products of Phileo can improve the growth and health performance of the black soldier fly (BSF). The promising results of these studies laid the foundation for more in-depth discussions and future prospects for collaboration between the two biotech companies.
The Phileo delegation, including Gildas Joaland (Director of Strategy and Partnerships), Juan Paredes (Global Species Manager – Insects) and Nadège Richard (R&D Aqua and Insects), was welcomed by CEO Marc Bolard, Marco Tejeda and key members of Nasekomo’s technical team. Later, Xavier Marcenac, Executive Chairman of Nasekomo’s Board of Directors, joined the discussions.
During the visit, the guests toured the industrial demonstration center, bioconversion facility and microbiology laboratory, gaining insight into Nasekomo’s integrated process for converting organic side streams into high-value insect-based ingredients. The agenda also included cross-presentations highlighting the complementarity between the two companies’ expertise in microbial and insect biotechnology.
The Phileo team presented their mission to “expand the boundaries of animal care” through beneficial microorganisms that promote animal health and sustainability in the insects, aquaculture, livestock and petcaresectors. Nasekomo, for its part, demonstrated how their insect bioconversion technology can bring circularity and efficiency to protein production, supported by advanced R&D capabilities.
The discussions throughout the day provided a solid foundation for future long-term collaboration, focusing on collaborative research, innovation in insect nutrition, and exploration of sustainable feed and ingredient solutions that leverage the scientific strengths of both partners.
“This meeting marks an important milestone in connecting two worlds of biological excellence – fermentation and insects – towards a shared vision for sustainable protein production,” said Marco Tejeda, Head of R&D at Nasekomo.
“Working together with Phileo by Lesaffre can unlock new opportunities for innovation and contribute to the feed industry’s transition to circular and natural solutions.”
By combining Phileo’s expertise in microbial fermentation with Nasekomo’s advances in insect bioconversion, the two companies are paving the way for new biological synergies that can boost feed efficiency, animal health and sustainability.
The visit concluded with a joint agreement on the mutual benefit of future collaboration between the two companies.
Nasekomo has consistently achieved ~25 grams of BSF eggs per cubic meter per day across its reproduction enclosures in its industrial operation, positioning the system as deployment-ready for mid- to large-scale customers.
The sustained industrial operating result in Black Soldier Fly (BSF) reproduction is measured on the effective volume of reproduction enclosures under routine production. The performance figure is expressed per effective reproduction-enclosure volume to provide a clear and comparable indicator of system efficiency without disclosing company intellectual property. The daily result is derived from routine production days and reflects the company’s standard operating environment.
At the heart of this milestone stands the company’s Multiplication center “MultiFly” – the genetics and breeding nucleus that multiplies elite insect lines and ensures a reliable supply of high-performance neonates. “This is a daily operating level reflecting a mature, production-grade setup operating at scale.” said Marc Bolard, co-founder and CEO of Nasekomo and a member of Management Board of the reputable international organization of insect producers IPIFF. The company also operates its suspension technology to further improve its product delivery internally but also to send the genetic resources to its network of clients around the world.
The reported outcome stems from three factors: long-running biology and protocol development, genetic gains achieved through its selection programme FlyGenetics, and industrial process design and environmental control at room level. The company reports that such productivity on daily basis was possible to obtain through:
- Mastering environmental management and control through the complete life cycle of insects;
- Introducing into reproduction loop animals with only highest reproductive potential;
- Creating an enclosure that allows to utilize full biological potential in industrial operations;
- Applying Standardized Operational Procedures and proper monitoring of all steps involved all along the process.
“Reproduction is the heart of insect farming. Achieving this level of consistency and yield unlocks predictable egg supply for partners scaling bioconversion,” said Marc Bolard. “This is a benchmark that shows what’s possible when cutting-edge technologies meet deep biological know-how, supported by a relentless focus on science and industrialisation.”
“Our three pillars—biology expertise, genetic gains through our Fly Genetics program, and industrial process mastery – from mating stimulation protocols to love-cage design optimization, backed by our R&D team, have led us to this industrial result,” added Bartosz Grodzki, manager of the Reproduction unit in Nasekomo’s Center of Excellence.
This is the second major milestone for Nasekomo this year. Earlier, the company announced its preliminary benchmark reached by its industrial production platform, “Automated Insect Rearing Beds and Bots.” The vertical rearing platform reached a 25% feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the achievement appeared to be one third higher than that of traditional crate-based solutions.
Commercialization
Nasekomo has begun selling its Black Soldier Fly (BSF) reproduction technology to mid- and large-scale operators, offering a turnkey solution that combines genetics, breeding, suspension and industrial applications for companies who wish to grow their own reproduction capacity. The company also provides secured egg-supply volumes directly—from pilot to industrial scale as an additional option. “Nasekomo technologies and solutions deliver consistency, quality, and scalability. This enables the rapid roll-out of profitable bioconversion plants,” said Marc Bolard.
The development of Nasekomo’s Multiplication center was supported by a €2.5 million grant under the EU’s Seal of Excellence and Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, validating both the technological maturity and societal impact of Nasekomo’s approach. With this strong foundation, the company is already in negotiations with several prospective customers and advancing discussions with prospects across Europe and the Americas.
About the company
Nasekomo is a biotech company pioneering insect bioconversion with proprietary technologies developed in-house in aim to be scaled through a franchise model. Nasekomo delivers unique and efficient solutions thanks to the combination of advanced biology with AI-driven insights and precise data collection. Proven through the quality production of protein meal, insect oil, whole dried larvae, and frass, Nasekomo’s technology harnesses the Black Soldier Fly to enable sustainable farming and address global challenges with consistency and impact.
Насекомо ЕАД обявява публична покана с предмет “Изработка, доставка и въвеждане в експлоатация на прототипна инсталация за тор от насекоми (фрас) в пред-индустриален мащаб”, във връзка с изпълнението на дейности по проект “Demonstrable and replicable cluster implementing systemic solutions through multilevel circular value chains for eco-efficient valorization of fishing and fish industries side-streams”, договор номер 101036428/08.09.2021, с финансовата подкрепа на Европейската комисия по програма Хоризонт 2020, направление “SOCIETAL CHALLENGES – Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials”. / Nasekomo EAD announces a public call with the subject: “Production, delivery and commissioning of a prototype installation for insect fertilizer (frass) on a pre-industrial scale”, in connection with the implementation of activities under the project “Demonstrable and replicable cluster implementing systemic solutions through multilevel circular value chains for eco-efficient valorization of fishing and fish industries side-streams”, contract number 101036428/08.09.2021, with the financial support of the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 program, direction “SOCIETAL CHALLENGES – Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials”.
Срок за входиране на оферти: 23:59ч. на 8 август 2025г. (7 дни от публичното обявление.)
/ Deadline for submission: 11:59 p.m. on August 8, 2025 (7 days from public announcement.)
Приложения / Attachments
Прил.1 Техническа спецификация
Прил.3 Образец на декларация на кандидата
Прил.6 Декларация подизпълнител
Насекомо ЕАД обявява публична покана с предмет “Изработка, доставка и въвеждане в експлоатация на прототипна инсталация за тор от насекоми (фрас) в пред-индустриален мащаб”, във връзка с изпълнението на дейности по проект “Demonstrable and replicable cluster implementing systemic solutions through multilevel circular value chains for eco-efficient valorization of fishing and fish industries side-streams”, договор номер 101036428/08.09.2021, с финансовата подкрепа на Европейската комисия по програма Хоризонт 2020, направление “SOCIETAL CHALLENGES – Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials”.
Nasekomo EAD announces a public call with the subject: “Production, delivery and commissioning of a prototype installation for insect fertilizer (frass) on a pre-industrial scale”, in connection with the implementation of activities under the project “Demonstrable and replicable cluster implementing systemic solutions through multilevel circular value chains for eco-efficient valorization of fishing and fish industries side-streams”, contract number 101036428/08.09.2021, with the financial support of the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 program, direction “SOCIETAL CHALLENGES – Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials”.
Срок за входиране на оферти: 17.07. 2025 / Deadline for submission: 17.07.2025
Приложения / Attachments
2. Техническа спецификация.pdf
4. Образец на декларация на кандидата по чл. 12 ал.1 т.1 от ПМС 160.doc
Sofia, Bulgaria – Nasekomo announces that its Chief Executive officer and Co-founder, Marc Bolard, has been officially appointed to the Board of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) during its General Assembly, held earlier this June in Santarém, Portugal. The event coincided with the second InsectERA Congress at the Portuguese National Agricultural Fair.
The appointment reflects Mr. Bolard’s long-standing contribution to the advancement of the insect protein sector and his expertise in applying science and technology to drive industry development. With a background in biology and genetics, and over 20 years of experience in R&D, Mr. Bolard brings a comprehensive perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in Europe.
Since co-founding Nasekomo in 2017, he has played a leading role in building the company’s genetics and automation strategy, and in deploying scalable insect bioconversion technologies. He also oversees the Fly Genetics program, focused on improving Black Soldier Fly breeding performance through genetic selection.
As a member of the IPIFF Board, Mr. Bolard will contribute to the platform’s mission to support the development of the insect sector in Europe and to represent the interests of insect protein producers in ongoing regulatory, scientific, and policy discussions.
Other newly appointed Board members include Rajmond Percze (Agroloop, Hungary) and Ivan Ante Nikolic (FreezeM, Israel).
About IPIFF
The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) is a non-profit EU industry association based in Brussels that represents stakeholders active in the production of insects for human consumption and animal feed.
About Nasekomo
Nasekomo is a biotechnology company based in Sofia, Bulgaria, specializing in insect bioconversion using the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). The company develops integrated technologies combining genetics, robotics, and data intelligence to build a sustainable franchise network of bioconversion factories, producing sustainable protein, oil, and organic fertilizer from bio-based residues.
About Marc Bolard
Before transitioning to the insect industry, Marc Bolard built a distinguished career in genetics. He served for many years as Director of Genetic Programs at France’s leading artificial insemination company Creavia and contributed as a researcher to the joint international scientific program between INRAE and CIRAD. In 2017, Marc co-founded Nasekomo with Xavier and Olya Marcenac. He currently serves as CEO of both Nasekomo and its genetics-focused subsidiary, FlyGenetics.
The project combines the innovative spirit, scientific approach, and ecological mission of Nasekomo with the technological expertise of global leader Siemens.
11.06.2025 / Sofia, Bulgaria
Siemens Bulgaria was recognized at the prestigious INNOVISION AWARDS 2025 for its joint project with Nasekomo. The awards, in the categories “Innovation in Technology” and “Innovation in Sustainability,” are a testament not only to Siemens’ technological vision but also to Nasekomo’s vision for a sustainable future — where nature meets digitalization.
The awards are presented by Planet Schwarz – a creative platform by Schwarz IT Bulgaria – and highlight projects that transform industries through innovation and sustainability.
“We congratulate our partners at Siemens Bulgaria for this well-deserved recognition. We know firsthand how much creativity, dedication, and hard work go into achieving our shared goals, inspired by Nasekomo’s vision. We see these two awards as both a source of pride and a strong validation that our innovative model – rooted in nature, science, and the circular economy, and empowered by digitalization – has the potential to transform entire industries,” says Marc Bolard, CEO of Nasekomo.
At the heart of the awarded project lies Nasekomo’s ambition to build – in partnership with global leaders such as Siemens – an intelligent insect industry, where biological and technological processes are automated, digitized, and operate with high levels of synchronization and predictability. The first fully automated insect breeding center is currently under construction by Nasekomo, with Siemens providing both technological and strategic support. Leveraging digital twins and the comprehensive Siemens Xcelerator platform, Nasekomo is developing a scalable, secure, and sustainable bioconversion model tailored to the needs of modern agriculture and the food industry.
Stefka Mavrodieva, Chief Digitalization Officer at Nasekomo:
“Our strategic partnership with Siemens is among the few global initiatives applying comprehensive digital framework in a biotechnology environment with uniquely high complexity across the process involving living organisms farming. It positions Nasekomo as pioneer and technology visioner in sustainable agri-production and underscores Bulgaria’s role as a hub for industrial innovation.”
Sofia, March 2025 — Nasekomo, a biotechnology company at the forefront of insect farming, has reached a major milestone in its industrial platform development. This winter, its proprietary Automated Insect Rearing Beds and Bots platform achieved 25% feed conversion ratio (FCR) – a performance level that sets a new benchmark for the profitability of the insect bioconversion industry.
The record, which is one-third higher than that of traditional crate-based solutions, was obtained in real industrial conditions at Nasekomo’s facility near Sofia, Bulgaria. It confirms the viability of a zero-crate, fully automated approach to rearing Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae at scale. The milestone reflects five years of continuous development and optimization of the platform.
“This is a key moment for our industry. The result shows how insect farming can truly scale and compete. At the current improvement rates, we aim at operating at this efficiency level or more in the short term, from 2026 onwards. Furthermore, our process has much lower mortality rates than in crate-based systems.” said Marc Bolard, Co-founder and CEO of Nasekomo.
Reinventing insect farming
The Automated Insect Rearing Beds and Bots platform redefines industrial insect farming through deep-substrate vertical farming, robotics and AI-powered analyses, and full environmental control — all without the use of crates. “Our system allows us to monitor in real time the entire volume of the rearing substrate with up to 20 cm height. We collect and act on data throughout the process, something crates simply can’t offer,” explained Kamen Vasilev, Head of Bioconversion and Processing at Nasekomo, adding: “The platform allows us interventions at any moment during the process”.
The heart of the platform is a plowing robot equipped with integrated sensors, capable of adjusting humidity and temperature at every stage of larvae growing. Designed for adaptability, the robot supports a wide range of current and future needs — including mixing, watering, refeeding, cooling, heating, and real-time monitoring. This enables dynamic optimization of the conditions in the platform, thus ensuring stable development and maximizing growth through the whole process.
In fact, the record FCR was achieved with three times less ventilation capacity than traditional systems, thanks to a highly efficient heat exchange system built into the automated rearing platform. As Marc Bolard puts it, “The larvae self-regulate their environment at almost no utility cost thanks to synergies between growing batches, ventilation, robot operations and materials and structural designs.”
Designed for the Future
Each platform unit spans up to 81 meters in length and 12 floors in height, with a processing capacity of around 16,000 tons of feed per year, potentially yielding up to 4,000 tons of larvae annually at the 25% FCR rate. It integrates advanced AI for monitoring, intervention, and optimization — ensuring a modular, energy-efficient, and profitable solution for the insect industry.
“We’ve taken millions of baby steps to get here — and we’re just getting started. The platform is future-proof, and we’ll keep developing it thanks to our partnership with Siemens, which brings industrial-grade precision and digital intelligence into insect farming,” added Marc Bolard.
About the platform
Developed over five years and protected by 5 patents (with 18 more pending), the Automated Insect Rearing Beds and Bots is the industry’s first modular and robotic platform that automates every step of insect rearing — from feed loading and neonates seeding to environmental monitoring, harvesting, and cleaning. Intelligent surveillance is possible thanks to the robotic system, capable of 24/7 autonomous operation and ensuring real-time decision-making. Fully compliant with Industry 4.0, the system is going to be integrated with production digital twins designed by Siemens software, ensuring future scalability. “Our automated insect rearing platform is like the Swiss knife of insect bioconversion – designed for profitability, efficiency, and sustainability from day one and future proof for tomorrow,” said Marc Bolard, CEO of Nasekomo. With its deep-substrate vertical farming model, the platform enables up to 3x more volume efficiency, massive CAPEX and OPEX savings compared to crate-based systems and a drastic reduction in energy use through heat recuperation and process optimization.
Nasekomo, the Bulgarian biotech company for sustainable proteins and innovative bioconversion solutions, has a new Chief Financial Officer – Svetlin Alexandrov.
He joins Nasekomo at a key stage in the company’s development. The attraction of Svetlin Alexandrov is intended to provide financial stability to the company in achieving its strategic development goals through an extensive cross-national franchise network.
Svetlin joins Nasekomo from Danfoss, where he was Managing Partner for Bulgaria and Hungary with responsibility for Finance and Administration, in parallel responsible for the relevant strategies and operations for the Adriatic and Black Sea regions.
As Nasekomo’s Chief Financial Officer, Svetlin will be responsible for financial planning, risk management and legal coordination and will be actively involved in the company’s strategic projects.
“Svetlin’s expertise and leadership come at a time when we are strengthening our position on the market and preparing to introduce additional innovative solutions in 2025. I believe his expertise and skills will contribute to greater efficiency and align our operations with our ambitious growth vision,” said Mark Bolar, Nasekomo co-founder and co-CEO.
Earlier this year, Nasekomo secured €8 million Euro in Series A funding to establish and expand a network of franchis bioconversion factories across Europem, first of which will be in Bulgaria.
Nasekomo is actively investing in digitgallization and optimization of production processes through machine learning and artificial intelligence and is working on creating digital twins of future bioconversion factories.
“I am very pleased to join the Nasekomo team. The company’s mission, the enthusiasm and the dedication of everyone here not only impresses but also motivates me to higher excellence and results. I believe that with my experience and knowledge I will help to achieve Nasekomo’s ambitious strategic goals in the short and long term,” said Svetlin Alexandrov.
In the first edition of the ESG AWARDS 2024, initiated by the Bulgarian specialized media ESGnews.bg, the winner in Sustainable Strategy category is Nasekomo.
Our company has been recognized for its sustainable development strategy, developed on the basis of the environmentally friendly mechanism of creating valuable products by absorbing low-value raw materials from agriculture through the natural power of insects.
The award was presented to Maria Alexandrova, head of “Innovation projects and sustainability”, by the Chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian Antarctic Union and director of the National Center for Polar Research at the SU professor Pimpirev. He congratulated Nasekomo for the bold vision of extracting valuable protein from insects and defined the achievement of the Bulgarian startup as a success for Bulgaria.
Maria Aleksadnrova emphasized that sustainability is the result of systematic work in a network of partners and thanked the creators of Nasekomo for the bold vision and the persistence with which they support it, the people in the company who are dedicated to the cause of Nasekomo, and the partners, with that the startup is moving forward.
Nasekomo is a technology company that develops innovative solutions for the industrialization of insect farming to extract environmentally friendly and high-quality protein for farm animal feed and fertilizer for organic farming.
The jury in the first ESG AWARDS, organized by ESGnews.bg, was chaired by George Kremlis, honorary director of the European Commission (EC), member of the Board of the European Organization for Public Law, chairman of the Climate and Circular Economy Institute of the association, member of the Environmental and Social Advisory Board of the EBRD and Chair of the Bureau of the Espoo Convention.
The recognition for Nasekomo also comes from experts such as Darinka Georgieva, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Network of the UN Global Compact, Assoc. Dr. Marina Stefanova, Executive Director of ESG Lab and ESG Academy and President of the Association of Sustainability Specialists (ASU), Ivelina Vasileva – Minister of Environment and Water in 2014-2017 and current member of the Board of the Mission for the Protection of Oceans, Seas and Inland Waters at the European Commission, and Valya Yordanova – founder and senior partner at BDO AFA, responsible for ESG company policy. She is a chartered expert accountant since 1992 and a registered auditor, a member of the Institute of Certified Chartered Accountants (IDES) and chairperson of the Audit Expert Council at KPNRO with over 30 years of teaching experience at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
