We inform about the challenges of insect farming in France
National Observatory on Insect Farming
ONEI (Observatoire national de l'élevage d'insectes, in French) provides stakeholders in this emerging industry with evidence-based data. Learn more about insect farming here.
Learn about the challenges of insect farming
Often touted as a sustainable alternative, the insect farming industry is growing, attracting billions of euros in investment from both the private sector and governments.
However, recent studies are questioning the sector's ecological and economic benefits. Explore our summary of the challenges here and in our opinion piece published in the top economic newspaper Les Echos.
Our organization
We are the first independent organization in France dedicated to providing information on this growing industry.
Based on scientific data, we provide access to the most relevant resources on insect farming.
News outlets referencing our work
Latest news
📉 Ynsect goes officially bankrupt
The world leader in insect farming went officially bankrupt on December 1, after raising €600 million. The company, which had 360 employees in 2023 and was presented as a French Tech unicorn, laid off its entire workforce. In an article, ONEI analyzes the structural causes of this failure.
🍃 New study on the environmental impact of insect protein
On October 29, we published in Biological Reviews the most comprehensive literature review to date on the environmental impacts of insect farming in Europe. After analyzing more than 350 scientific studies, we found that the environmental benefits of insects as food and feed have often been overstated.
🍽️ Will we all eat insects? New study
Our new study, “Beyond the Buzz,” was published this summer in the scientific journal npj Sustainable Agriculture (Nature group). It highlights the low acceptability of insects as food and the low likelihood that they will end up on our plates. This study has been featured in numerous media outlets, including RFI, Le Parisien, Libération, GEO, The Guardian, and many others.
🎤 Presentations at two academic conferences
We had the honour of speaking at two international conferences dedicated to insect farming:
➡️In London: Insects as Food and Feed (Royal Entomological Society)
➡️In Germany: Insecta 2025
We were able to share our analysis of the sector's structural challenges and participate in a panel discussion.
📄New ONEI study questions the scientific basis of insect farming promises
A new study published in npj Sustainable Agriculture (a Nature group publication) reveals that the economic and environmental promises touted in the insect farming literature are often based on unrealistic assumptions.
🎥 ONEI is featured in numerous media outlets
Following the economic difficulties faced by Agronutris and Ynsect, we appeared in numerous media outlets to analyse the situation: BFM Business (1:23), Reporterre, La Tribune, RTL, France Inter (0:15), etc.
📨 Launch of our first newsletter
The first edition of our newsletter, published on December 20, 2024, presents a review of the past year as well as a summary of our findings and actions. Subscribe using the form at the bottom of this page to stay informed.
📢 Publication of an opinion piece in Les Echos
On November 6, 2024, we had the honour of publishing an opinion piece in Le Cercle des Echos, with an analysis of the risks associated with public investment in the insect industry, given the economic and environmental challenges facing this sector.
📢 Ynsect and Agronutris in difficulty - Major crisis for the sector's heavyweights
Two of the three industry pioneers are in difficulty. Ynsect is seeking a buyer or investors or faces liquidation by March, while Agronutris has placed its holding company in receivership.