French insect protein producer Innovafeed has received independent validation of the environmental data underpinning its insect-based ingredients from the Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI), a key global reference for life cycle assessment (LCA) data in the animal feed sector.
The Paris-based company said the validation confirms the robustness and environmental credibility of its industrial-scale insect protein, oil and frass (organic fertiliser) products. Innovafeed’s LCA data has been approved under GFLI’s “Branded Data” framework, which is aligned with international standards developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its LEAP guidelines, as well as the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology.
The move positions Innovafeed among the first companies to successfully complete GFLI’s branded data evaluation since the framework opened following a pilot phase launched in 2023. The validated data will be incorporated into the GFLI database in its next update, scheduled for June 2026, improving the accuracy and comparability of environmental assessments for insect-based feed ingredients.
GFLI aims to provide a harmonised, transparent and globally accessible database to support credible measurement of the environmental footprint of animal feed ingredients and animal products. The inclusion of Innovafeed’s data is expected to strengthen the visibility of insect protein as a lower-impact alternative within livestock and aquafeed supply chains.
“This major milestone, eagerly awaited by all our customers, provides tangible proof of the impact of Innovafeed’s model, a model designed to transform agri-food value chains and accelerate their transition toward more resilient and responsible systems,” said Maye Walraven, Innovafeed’s Chief Business Officer and Chief Impact Officer.
Enzo Ballestra, Chief of Staff and Impact Manager, said the process had taken nearly 18 months. “Beyond our internal impact communications, this recognition gives our model global, harmonised legitimacy across the entire industry,” he said.
Under GFLI’s branded data approach, manufacturers rely primarily on product-specific primary data rather than industry averages, enabling customers to access more precise and actionable environmental information. For the insect protein sector, where scrutiny of sustainability claims is intensifying, the validation represents a significant step toward greater transparency and credibility at commercial scale.
Innovafeed produces ingredients derived from the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) for use in pet food, animal feed and plant nutrition, and has positioned insect-based inputs as a way to diversify protein sources while reducing pressure on land, water and marine resources.
