Koppert, Certhon build climate-controlled moth breeding facility

Koppert is developing a large-scale, fully climate-controlled production facility for flour moths (Ephestia) in Berkel en Rodenrijs, the Netherlands. The 3,500 m² production hall is designed to support industrial-scale breeding of insects used within Koppert’s biological crop protection chain and is being realised in collaboration with greenhouse and climate technology specialist Certhon.

The new facility represents Koppert’s first insect breeding installation of this size and technical complexity. Flour moths play a critical role in the company’s production of biological control agents, where consistent quality, timing and volume are essential for downstream processes. By scaling production under tightly controlled environmental conditions, the facility is intended to improve process stability and reproducibility compared with smaller or less automated setups.

Climate control tailored to biological processes
Certhon is responsible for the complete climate installation, including air handling units, cooling infrastructure and the Certhon Control System (CCS). The system continuously regulates temperature, humidity and airflow based on the biological requirements of the moths, rather than fixed setpoints. This adaptive approach allows the climate to respond dynamically to different life stages, supporting stable breeding conditions while limiting unnecessary energy use.

The project marks Certhon’s first application of its climate technology within insect farming. The company’s modular system architecture allows the installation to be scaled and adjusted as production volumes or biological parameters change, which is particularly relevant for living production systems with variable loads.

Construction timeline and commissioning
Construction of the facility is underway, with air handling units installed on the steel structure in early 2026. Commissioning of the breeding facility is scheduled for later in 2026, after completion of climate integration and system validation. Once operational, the site will serve as a dedicated production environment for large-scale biological insect breeding under controlled industrial conditions.

www.certhon.com