Zeigler to purchase insect-based feeds from Neptune Industries

Zeigler Bros. sent out a letter of intent to purchase more than 40 tonnes per month of Neptune Industries'' Ento-Protein, an insect-based alternative to fishmeal.

Ento-Protein is a high quality sustainable protein derived from insects, which is intended to replace rapidly depleting fishmeal made from wild caught feedstock species.

Zeigler Bros is a leading manufacturer of high quality animal feeds founded in 1935. It is the first to manufacture feeds for aquaculture in 1955, the first to commercialize a stable form of vitamin C in 1988, and most recently the first developer of aquatic diets for use in biomedical research.

Meanwhile, Neptune plans on opening the first of its production facilities in late 2008. Deliveries are expected to begin by the end of this year, following the establishment of pilot operations.

Ernest D. Papadoyianis, Neptune CEO, said the Zeigler''s letter is a major step forward in achieving the product launch of Ento-Protein by the end of this year.

Papadoyianis added that the Neptune have also received sample requests from several feed producers.

Neptune has began a research and testing programme for Ento-Protein with Mississippi State University in 2007, and recently completed the third stage of validation trials.

The company filed a provisional process patent in the Production and Processing of Select Insects into Protein Meal for Fish and Animal Diets in February 2006.