21/05/2024

NextProtein, a company founded by two Tunisians, Syrine Chaalala and Mohamed Gastli, last week signed a partnership agreement that will enable it to expand its activities in Latin America. The investment, worth 655 million pesos (around 120 MTND), will enable the company to set up five plants across the country, create 400 jobs and recycle around 200 tonnes of organic waste a year. Thanks to this partnership, the company will have access to out-of-date vegetable and fruit waste from Central de Abasto, the Mexican capital’s main wholesale market. This waste will then be used to breed flies, which are transformed into a number of products used in the manufacture of protein-rich animal feed. NextProtein was founded in 2015 and, although it is currently based in France, it continues to operate two plants in Tunisia. The company says that, thanks to its process, it is able to create as much protein in a 100m² area as a 100-hectare field of soya. The company plans to accelerate its expansion in Latin America over the coming years, with investments of 430 million dinars over the medium term.