PwC Recognizes Nasekomo as a Catalyst for Positive Change
In a landmark achievement, biotechnology firm Nasekomo has been bestowed with the prestigious “Game Changer” award in the Innovations category at the ESG Awards, an initiative organized by PwC Bulgaria. The company emerged victorious among 22 contenders in the inaugural competition, held on November 22nd, 2022, to commend businesses in Bulgaria demonstrating excellence in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies and responsible practices.
The award ceremony celebrated Nasekomo for its pioneering role as the sole industrial insect breeder in South-Eastern Europe and the fifth certified company on the continent for breeding the black soldier fly. Xavier Marcenac, co-founder and CEO, graciously accepted the accolade, highlighting the company’s commitment to leveraging insect technologies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and address global food security challenges.
Concurrently, the co-founder, Olga Marcenac, was honored with the “Entrepreneur in Sustainable Development” award. Recognized for her exceptional contributions to promoting responsible business practices, Olga received the accolade not only for her leadership within Nasekomo but also for her active role as a business angel investing in sustainable start-up projects. Her support extends to ventures in textile recycling, the development of eco-friendly food products, sustainable forest resource utilization, and solutions for optimizing electricity consumption..
Nasekomo has positioned itself as a trailblazer in the circular economy worldwide, developing eco-friendly ingredients for feed and organic fertilizer through the bioconversion by black soldier fly larvae. In circumstances of less than 9% global circular economy rate, the company stands out as a transformative force, championing circular products, processes, and services. These alternatives present sustainable options, countering the environmental impact of conventional raw materials like soy, linked to Amazon deforestation, and wild fish, contributing to ocean depletion.
The burgeoning insect industry, globally established in 2018 with initial productions in France and the Netherlands, foresees immense growth. Nasekomo anticipates meeting the increasing demand for insect protein, with projections estimating a requirement of 500,000 tons annually by 2030, as per the forecast by Rabobank, an international banking institution.
The PwC competition witnessed robust participation, with nearly 70 companies submitting nearly 80 applications across four categories: “Strategy,” “Innovations,” “Educational Program,” and “Leader in Sustainable Development.” An esteemed panel of independent ESG experts evaluated the entries, adhering to the methodology developed by PwC Bulgaria and PwC Poland.
Nasekomo remains at the forefront of transformative innovation, recognized by PwC for its unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and groundbreaking contributions to the field of biotechnology. The company’s achievements reflect its dedication to creating a positive impact on both the environment and society. Rooted in its core activities, the company employs a circular model, revolutionizing the human food chain by producing animal feeds from organic waste thanks to insect’s tremendous biological powers. Protein products produced from our insects increase farmed animal outputs, welfare and health as they are a historical component of animal natural diets with amazing nutritional benefits and immunity enhancers.
Being a biotechnology company, Nasekomo is addressing global agricultural challenges through innovative solutions, leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies, robotics and digitalized solutions for insect protein production industry. Through Fly Genetics, a joint venture with Groupe Grimaud, Nasekomo is developing a sophisticated selection program, empowering the company’s partners to produce enhanced premium insect protein on an industrial scale.