In the heart of Castile and León, a Salamanca-based company has become one of Europe’s benchmarks in biotechnology applied to sustainability. Tebrio Group, specialized in the industrial farming of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor, has positioned itself at the forefront of the circular economy. Its trajectory was recently recognized with the National SME of the Year Award 2025, an accolade that distinguishes Spain’s small and medium-sized enterprises for growth, innovation, and economic impact.
Founded with the aim of turning organic waste into high-value resources, Tebrio Group has developed a production model based on bioconversion. Through the controlled farming of Tenebrio molitor, the company generates sustainable ingredients destined for sectors such as animal feed, agriculture or the cosmetics industry. This technology enables the valorization of agricultural by-products to produce proteins, fats and organic fertilizers, while reducing the environmental footprint.
The company, based in Salamanca, has become one of the largest insect producers at an industrial scale in Europe. Its growth has been steady in recent years, driven by the rising demand for sustainable solutions across the global food chain. Tebrio’s model rests on a simple but powerful principle: insects can transform vegetal waste into high-value nutrients with efficiency far surpassing traditional livestock farming.
This approach addresses one of the great challenges of the 21st century: how to feed a growing world population without increasing pressure on natural resources. According to international bodies, insect protein is one of the most promising alternatives for achieving more sustainable food systems. Tebrio has decisively pursued this route, combining biotechnology, automation and the circular economy.
National SME of the Year Award 2025
The recognition of the National SME of the Year Award 2025 marks a milestone in the company’s trajectory. The award, conferred by the Cámara de Comercio de España y el Banco Santander, honors companies that stand out for their contributions to innovation, internationalization, job creation and economic development. In Tebrio Group’s case, the jury especially valued its ability to turn a scientific and technological model into a high-impact business project.
One of the key elements of its growth has been the commitment to research and development. The company collaborates with technology centers and universities to improve breeding processes, optimize energy efficiency and develop new insect-derived products. Thanks to this investment in R&D, Tebrio has established itself as an international reference in the emerging field of insect-based biotechnology.
In addition to its technological dimension, the company also has a strong impact on the local economic fabric. From Salamanca, Tebrio has created skilled jobs and helped energize the region’s business ecosystem. Its industrial project demonstrates that high-level innovation is not limited to large metropolitan areas, but can emerge and take root in regions traditionally linked to more conventional sectors.
International expansion is another pillar of the company’s strategy. Tebrio exports its products to various markets and works to consolidate its presence in Europe and other regions where insect protein is gaining prominence. Growing concerns about sustainability and food security are accelerating interest in these kinds of solutions.
Meanwhile, the company continues to broaden its production capacity with new facilities designed to operate at scale. These plants feature automation systems and environmental control that ensure traceability and the quality of the entire process. The result is efficient, sustainable production capable of meeting the needs of increasingly demanding industries.
Tebrio Group was launched by Adriana Casillas and Sabas de Diego, who remain the two most visible founding figures of the company: Casillas as CEO and cofounder and De Diego as CTO and cofounder. The company traces its origins to 2014, with a very artisanal start: the founders began raising this insect at home and, from there, built a project that today has international reach.
