Siemens partners with Entocycle to digitalise insect farming industry
An operator using Siemens SCADA Systems Controls at Entocycle’s Centre for Insect Technology. Photograph: Entocycle
10 Jun 2025
London, UK – Tuesday 10th June 2025 – A pioneering insect farm concept is set to scale its sustainability impact after partnering with Siemens to digitalise its operations.
Entocycle, a specialist manufacturer of insect farm technology which uses insects to turn food waste into sustainable protein for animal feed, worked alongside Siemens to create the UK’s first digitalised insect farm showroom under four Victorian railway arches in the heart of London.
The company, which designs and builds insect farms that convert food waste into low-carbon protein, strategically picked its central London location to attract talent and investors to its concept.
Using Siemens' digital twin technology, Entocycle was able to virtually model the facility before physical construction began, optimising the challenging arch-shaped space and preventing costly mistakes during the build phase.
A full digital transformation was then undertaken, and the facility now leverages Siemens AI and automation to help scale operations while driving efficiencies. The advanced site features robotic arms, climate-controlled chambers and machine vision technology that counts and monitors 3,000 microscopic larvae a second with 96-100% accuracy.
Implementing digitalisation has reduced insect larval growth time and improved survival rates by 30%, demonstrating how the emerging insect bioconversion process can be accelerated and implemented at industrial scale in the future.
After a year of successful operation at the site, the insect farm concept has proven how it can help address two critical sustainability challenges: tackling the staggering 10.7 million tonnes of annual UK food waste (30% of which stems from supply chain inefficiencies) while simultaneously reducing dependency on the 3.3 million tonnes of imported soybean products that currently flood into the country each year for animal feed.
Entocycle is now looking to expand operations on an industrial scale, helping farms, agricultural businesses, and waste management companies to reduce carbon emissions worldwide while creating a blueprint for future food systems.
Matt Simonds, managing director at Entocycle, said: “We’ve spent a decade developing this concept, which has grown from equipment pieced together from hardware retailers to the bespoke and highly advanced factory we’re running today. The London Bridge centre proves our concept, which leverages the black soldier fly as nature’s recycler, that can be scaled around the world to help tackle the dual issue of food waste and sustainability issues in animal feed supply.
“Insect farming is an exciting emerging industry, and our vision is to be the go-to provider of technology to customers alongside our partner Siemens. In 10 years’ time, we expect Entocycle-designed farms to be processing millions of tonnes of food waste around the world, saving millions of tonnes of carbon emissions with it. Partnering with Siemens to deliver our solution internationally provides us with the trust and scalability we need to deliver on our global ambitions.”
Keith Thornhill, head of food and beverage for UK & Ireland at Siemens said: “Entocycle has created the blueprint for high-tech insect farming. It’s successfully applied modern manufacturing technology to its highly niche subject of rearing black soldier flies. And the outcomes are clear to see in increased insect survival rates and slashing the time staff would spend counting insects.
“It’s a fantastic concept ready to be delivered to customers around the world, regardless of site size and location. We’re proud to support it as a great example of technology with a purpose in addressing crucial sustainability challenges.”
About Entocycle
Entocycle is a world-leading provider of insect farming technology. For ten years, the company has built an unrivalled reputation in the insect industry through the delivery of cutting-edge technology, solutions, and services to customers worldwide – all powered by a mission to create a more sustainable global food system. An expert team of entomologists, engineers, and industry advisors, Entocycle’s track record includes the successful delivery of complex insect engineering projects for leading insect companies, research institutions, and ambitious entrepreneurs.
About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company’s purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more liveable, and transportation more sustainable.
More information
