Koppert invests in climate-controlled flour moth facility

Koppert, the Netherlands-based supplier of biological crop-protection products, is investing in a fully climate-controlled breeding facility for flour moths, a key input in its biological insect production chain. The 3,500-square-meter site, under construction in Berkel en Rodenrijs near Rotterdam, is being developed with climate-systems specialist Certhon and is scheduled to be commissioned later in 2026.

Flour moths of the Ephestia genus are used to produce beneficial insects that Koppert supplies to growers as alternatives to chemical pesticides. The new plant is intended to make that upstream biological production more predictable and less exposed to environmental fluctuations, a factor that has historically constrained the scale and consistency of insect-based crop-protection systems. Koppert said this is its first insect-breeding facility of this size and technical complexity.

Certhon is responsible for the design and installation of the climate system, including air-handling, cooling and its Certhon Control System, which adjusts temperature, humidity and airflow to match the biological needs of the insects. For Certhon, which has focused primarily on controlled-environment horticulture, the project marks its first commercial deployment in insect production.

“The system continuously adjusts the climate to the biology of the flour moths,” said Jaap Weerheim, a technical specialist at Certhon. “That allows the insects to develop in a stable environment with lower energy use than conventional climate control.”

Koppert said the investment is aimed at reducing production volatility while improving output efficiency as demand for biological crop-protection products continues to rise. “By combining our biological knowledge with climate technology, we are building a more stable and efficient production process,” said Bram Klein, the project lead at Koppert.

Construction has already reached the structural phase, with air-handling units installed on the steel framework earlier this year. Once operational, the facility will supply flour moths for Koppert’s global biologicals production, a segment the company views as increasingly important as growers seek to limit reliance on chemical pesticides.