AgriProtein was founded in 2008 to provide an ecologically sound replacement for
fishmeal, which is increasingly expensive because of the depletion of fish stocks. The AgriProtein process is noteworthy in that it diverts organic waste from
landfills. After consultation with a researcher at
Stellenbosch University, a presentation at
Tedx in 2011, and approximately five years of development, the company opened its first commercial factory in 2015 near
Cape Town International Airport. They received $11 million in initial investment funding, In 2018, they raised $105 million in funding, the 18th largest recorded agricultural technology deal and agreed to buy Millibeter, a Belgian company in
Turnhout. They were awarded the 2013
United Nations Innovation Prize for Africa, They were also included in
Times first annual list of "top 50 Genius Companies" in 2018. AgriProtein have licensees worldwide and research centres studying fly genetics, insect breeding, and production of antibiotics for feed from larval proteins. ==References==