INSOSTPACK is an ambitious R&D project funded by the CDTI, and supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, which investigates a pioneering circular economy model for the food industry. Their proposal is as innovative as it is sustainable: to transform food waste and surplus into protein, oil and chitin by automated insect breeding in smart containers.

A revolutionary approach that will allow the waste-generating companies themselves – such as supermarkets, collective canteens or food processors – to convert them into new food products or compostable packaging, reducing waste and closing the circle of value.

The current model of food production mainly follows a linear logic: use and dispose. With INSOSTPACK, we are investigating a circular and efficient alternative that responds to one of the sector’s greatest challenges: to make the most of what is currently wasted. Thanks to the potential of the black soldier fly, capable of feeding on practically any organic waste, and to an intelligent and automated breeding system, INSOSTPACK will allow to reincorporate into the food cycle by-products of great added value, such as:

• Sustainable protein, for human and animal feed.
• Insect oil, as ingredient or raw material for bioplastics.
• Chitin, a versatile biopolymer to create plastic-free containers, biodegradable and compostable.

The INSOSTPACK project aims to develop an innovative technological solution for the automated breeding of insects from food waste and surplus, using a smart container adapted to non-specialized environments. We will investigate how the conditions of breeding and the diet influence the growth of the larvae and the quality of the bioproducts obtained: protein, oil and chitin. At the same time, progress will be made on sustainable fractionation techniques that allow the extraction of these compounds with low energy consumption. In addition, its application in biodegradable and compostable packaging, as well as in the formulation of food and feed, will be explored, thus promoting a real and circular alternative to the current model of food production.

INSOSTPACK is structured into six research phases ranging from automated container design to validation in the laboratory environment. It is a collaborative project led by EROSKI together with innovative companies such as PROMIC, INSECTIUS, KAAM, BZERO and AUSOLAN, and with the scientific support of TECNALIA and AIMPLAS.

The expected impact of the INSOSTPACK project is broad and transformative, both environmentally and economically, socially and technologically. By developing an innovative solution for the recovery of food waste through automated insect breeding, it will contribute significantly to the reduction of food waste at source, that is, in the supermarkets and canteens themselves that generate these surpluses. This means an improvement in the efficiency of the food system and a reduction in the volume of waste that needs to be transported and managed, which in turn implies a lower carbon footprint. In addition, the project will enable new ingredients and high value-added materials to be sourced from currently untapped by-products such as protein, oil and chitin extracted from insects. These compounds will be able to re-enter the food industry, either as ingredients for food or for the manufacture of more sustainable packaging. This new production route promotes a lower dependence on traditional and fossil resources, opening the way to biodegradable and compostable alternatives that improve the sustainability of the entire food chain.

From a technological point of view, INSOSTPACK will promote the development of intelligent systems for breeding and processing, with low energy consumption and supported by artificial intelligence, which represents a notable advance in the automation and sustainability of the sector. Socially, the project will also boost job creation in emerging green sectors, strengthening the local circular economy and fostering a more resilient and responsible development model. All this consolidates a more sustainable vision and commitment to the future of food.

INSOSTPACK is aligned with EROSKI’s Commitments to sustainability, especially to boost the circular economy and reduce the use of polluting packaging. It is part of our contribution to Mission 8 of the CDTI Missions program, focused on efficient and sustainable processing and packaging for safe and quality food.