Volare 01 insect protein factory opens in Pori with €7.1 million funding
Volare has launched its first industrial-scale insect protein factory in Pori, Finland, a €15 million facility designed to produce 5,000 tonnes of protein annually. The company secured €7.1 million in new funding to scale its model, which uses black soldier fly larvae to convert food waste into feed ingredients for aquafeed and pet food.
Volare 01, the first industrial-scale insect protein factory, opened in Pori, Finland on October 26, 2026. The Helsinki-based company, founded in 2021, built the €15 million plant to produce up to 5,000 tonnes of insect protein and 2,000 tonnes of insect oil per year from black soldier fly larvae. This marks a 1,000-fold capacity increase over Volare's earlier demonstration site, from which it has sold ingredients commercially since 2022. The 10,000-square-metre facility is fully electric and operates with just four employees per shift.
Volare secured €7.1 million in a funding round led by Springvest, with participation from investor Maki.vc. The capital will support operations and scaling plans. CEO Jarna Hyvönen stated, "We delivered the factory on schedule and on budget." The company's immediate focus is on commissioning and ramping up the Pori plant to its nameplate output.
Funding and Efficiency Advantages
The new funding highlights Volare's capital-efficient model. The €15 million construction cost for Volare 01 is less than many competing insect protein projects require. The company says its process demands significantly lower capital and energy inputs than other industry models.
| Efficiency Metric | Volare's Claimed Advantage |
|---|---|
| Capital Expenditure | 4 to 10 times less than other models |
| Energy Use in Processing | 30% less than other models |
| Labor Requirements | Around 50% fewer employees than other models |
The plant's automated design enables this lean operation. Scaling physical production involves real marginal costs, unlike software. The €7.1 million raise represents roughly 47% of the first factory's build cost. A planned second facility, with about five times the protein capacity, would require significantly more capital.
Commercial Validation and Applications
Volare 01 converts side streams from the food industry into protein meal, oil, and fertiliser. The output serves multiple feed sectors through confirmed offtake agreements and partnerships. European pet-food and feed manufacturers are actively seeking local, high-quality protein alternatives.
Key commercial partners include aquafeed producer Skretting and a global chemical company, which have agreements for a significant share of production. Other customers use the ingredients in dog treats for Alvar Pet, cat food for Dagsmark under the VAFO Group, rainbow trout feed for Alltech Fennoaqua, and organic poultry feed. Jarna Hyvönen said, "Volare 01 proves that our technology and production model work at industrial scale."
Scaling Strategy and Market Opportunity
The successful launch paves the way for European expansion. Volare plans to replicate its production model across the continent and other markets. The next factory is slated to have approximately five times the protein capacity of the Pori site. No location, start date, or final cost is confirmed.
Hyvönen stated the goal is to bring more local protein production capacity to Europe and beyond. The insect protein sector often sees long timelines between pilot and industrial output. Volare's model aims to deliver efficient and competitive local production at scale. The company is now focused on the commissioning and ramp-up phases to reach Volare 01's full nameplate output capacity.
