LIVIN farms - a new kind of protein

LIVIN farms, led by Katharina Unger, is a pioneer in insect farming for sustainable feed production. The Viennese start-up develops innovative solutions aimed at helping to meet the global demand for proteins in an environmentally friendly way. 

The company has laid down a marker with the first ever zero-waste insect factory in Vienna's 11th district Simmering, and won the Mercur Innovation Award in the Sustainability category. 

LIVIN farms has recently been nominated for the 2024 Austrian National Innovation Award – further proof of the relevance and success of this sustainable business model.

Since its foundation, LIVIN farms has undergone a remarkable development. What began as a team of three people is now a thriving company with 25 employees. The original concept of developing decentralised insect fattening systems has been continuously developed and refined. 

Today, LIVIN farms develops fully automated systems specifically designed to breed insects – especially black soldier fly larva – on a large scale. This technology helps companies such as food producers to convert their organic waste into valuable protein. The Seedlings, or baby larvae, are delivered directly to customers, where they are used for breeding. Thanks to this combination of modern technology and practical applications, LIVIN farms has successfully established itself in a relatively new market segment.

Close cooperation with the Vienna Business Agency has played a key role in the expansion and development of LIVIN farms. Funding programmes like Social Entrepreneurship Funding, Innovation Funding and the Location Initiative provided the company with the necessary financial and advisory support. “The Location Initiative made a significant contribution to developing Vienna as a place of business for us,” emphasises Unger. This support was especially important, as LIVIN farms had previously operated mainly in Asia. The Vienna site served as a springboard for European markets.

Internationalisation was one of the company's core objectives right from the start. “We were active on the international market from day one,” says Unger. The demonstration site in Vienna's Simmering district, just 20 minutes from the airport, was set up with support from the Vienna Business Agency and now serves as a showcase for the technology for customers from all over the world. LIVIN farms is currently working on six active plant construction projects across Europe. Ten projects are in the planning phase and the company is already looking for a new location to expand its production operations.

Sustainability is at the core of the LIVIN farms philosophy. The company focuses on the innovative production of sustainable proteins by breeding black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, which specifically utilise organic by-products from the food and animal feed industry. LIVIN farms thus offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional protein sources such as soya and fishmeal, which are associated with high environmental impacts. BSF larvae are able to efficiently convert waste such as bread and vegetable scraps into protein-rich biomass, which helps to reduce food waste and conserve resources.

In contrast to conventional methods, rearing BSF larvae uses significantly less land and water and generates considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions. This enables a closed-loop economy and supports the EU target of halving food waste by 2030. The Vienna Business Agency promotes these endeavours by supporting innovative technologies and sustainable production methods, thereby contributing to the advancement of a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

LIVIN farms' future strategy envisages steady expansion within Europe and beyond. With innovative technologies and a growing team, the company is ideally positioned to meet the global demand for sustainable food technologies. “We are actively looking for new locations and are in close consultation about further projects,” reveals Unger.

Thanks to its own visionary approach and the support of the Vienna Business Agency, LIVIN farms has established itself as a lighthouse project for sustainable innovation in Vienna and far beyond. Its success story shows how crucial access to regional funding and consultancy services can be for the development of an internationally active company.