Koreanova, an artificial intelligence-based smart factory developer, is scheduled to complete construction of a 5.16 billion won automated insect production facility in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, by the end of May. This project represents the largest single-scale smart insect farm in South Korea. The facility is designed to transition the industry from small-scale rearing to factory-style mass production, increasing the number of rearing boxes from several hundred to approximately 20,000.
Industrial Scale and Automation
The Yecheon Hub Complex integrates the entire production lifecycle into a single automated system. This includes standardized feed manufacturing, processing centres, and an integrated control system that manages automated transfer robots, feeding, washing, and waste separation. The facility will focus on the mass production of white-spotted flower beetle larvae and mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). Unlike many competitors that rely on subcontracted hardware or software, Koreanova maintains an independent execution system, designing its own machinery and AI control software to ensure data consistency and easier maintenance.
Implications for Feed Procurement and Milling
For procurement teams and mill operators, the opening of this facility signals a move towards a more reliable and standardized supply of insect-based proteins. The shift to automated, data-driven production helps mitigate the quality fluctuations often associated with traditional insect farming. As the industry seeks sustainable alternatives to soy and fishmeal, the ability to scale production to 20,000 rearing boxes provides a blueprint for the consistent volumes required by commercial feed millers. This facility establishes a technical standard for future hub complexes, potentially lowering the barrier for entry for integrated feed operations looking to adopt insect protein.
Source: kr.aving.net