Volare, a Finnish alternative protein company founded in 2021, has opened its first industrial-scale insect protein manufacturing facility and secured €7.1 million in Series B funding to accelerate expansion across Europe.
The company completed construction of Volare 01, a 10,000 square metre facility located in Pori, Finland, which represents a €15 million capital investment. The factory came in on schedule and within budget, according to the company. Springvest led the funding round, with Maki.vc also participating as an investor.
Production Capability
The new facility is designed to produce up to 5,000 tonnes of insect protein and 2,000 tonnes of insect oil annually, positioning it as a significant contributor to Europe’s growing alternative protein sector. Insect protein is increasingly recognised as a sustainable source of nutrition for animal feed and human consumption applications.
Jarna Hyvönen, Volare’s CEO and co-founder, commented on the achievement: “Volare 01 proves that our technology and production model work at industrial scale.” The statement underscores the company’s confidence in replicating the factory model throughout Europe as part of its expansion strategy.
Investment and Growth Plans
Volare intends to deploy the fresh capital toward commissioning and ramping up production at the Pori facility, securing offtake agreements with potential customers, and developing additional factories across Europe. The funding round reflects investor confidence in the company’s business model and the broader potential of insect-based protein production.
The alternative protein sector has attracted significant attention in recent years as companies, regulators, and consumers seek sustainable alternatives to conventional animal agriculture. Insect farming produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional livestock farming and requires considerably less land and water resources.
European Context
Finland has emerged as a notable hub for alternative protein innovation, with several startups and established companies exploring various production methods and protein sources. Volare’s successful commissioning of an industrial facility adds to Finland’s growing reputation in this space and demonstrates the viability of scaling insect protein production beyond pilot and demonstration phases.
The completion of Volare 01 comes at a time when European policymakers and industry stakeholders are working to establish regulatory frameworks and market conditions that support alternative protein development. The EU has set ambitious sustainability targets that encompass food system transformation, creating a favourable environment for companies developing innovative protein sources.
As established players and emerging startups continue to invest in production capacity, the competitive landscape for alternative proteins is expected to intensify across Europe. Volare’s expansion plans suggest growing confidence that industrial-scale insect protein production can achieve commercial viability and contribute meaningfully to Europe’s protein supply chain diversification.