The insect farming industry was anticipated to experience significant growth, particularly exemplified by Aspire Food Group Canada in London, Ont. Marketed as the world’s largest cricket farm, it was a 150,000-square-foot automated facility envisioned to produce millions of kilograms of protein annually from billions of insects.
Crickets are promoted as an eco-friendly protein source, requiring less land than conventional livestock and offering a solution to global food insecurity. The project garnered international support, winning the prestigious $1-million US Hult Prize in 2013, endorsed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. It attracted investments from various countries, along with substantial federal loans and grants.
Although the facility commenced operations in 2022, it faced financial difficulties and entered receivership in 2025. The total amount of public funds recovered from this venture following its sale remains undisclosed due to a court order sealing the final sale price. Despite attempts to reach out, none of Aspire Food Group’s founders agreed to comment on the situation.
The downfall of the world’s largest cricket farm was not abrupt; rather, it stemmed from a disparity between the investors’ anticipated scale and the slow development of the insect consumption market. According to Sadaf Mollaei, an expert in sustainable food systems and consumer behavior at the University of Guelph, the primary obstacle lies in the reluctance of North Americans to embrace insect-based foods due to a “yuck factor.”
Furthermore, the high cost of cricket-based products presents another challenge. Despite being recognized as a premium, environmentally friendly, and healthy alternative, the pricing of cricket powder, for instance, can exceed that of premium beef cuts on a per-pound basis. The market for insect consumption in North America failed to expand as rapidly as predicted, leaving producers in a predicament where they struggle to attract more customers without reducing prices, yet can’t decrease prices without a larger customer base.
Darren Goldin, an insect farmer at Entomo Farms in Norwood, emphasized that price remains a significant hurdle for the industry. Unlike Aspire’s large-scale, automated system, Entomo Farms operates with open rooms and “cricket condos,” allowing for better monitoring and adaptability to changes in the farming environment. Goldin highlighted the intricate nature of cricket farming, requiring constant vigilance to address any issues promptly.
Court documents revealed that Aspire Food Group’s London facility encountered challenges in scaling up operations, with initial success in Texas not translating well to the Ontario environment. By mid-2024, the company was operating at only half capacity and required additional financing to rectify operational issues and increase production. Farm Credit Canada was owed approximately $41 million at the time of receivership, with the recovery status of this debt remaining undisclosed.
The property was later sold, with the purchase price paid to the court-appointed law firm overseeing the asset sale. The City of London confirmed the settlement of $1 million in back taxes, but the source of these funds remains ambiguous. The facility was acquired by Halali Group Holdings in 2025, with the sale price also sealed by court order, leaving uncertainties regarding the amount of public funds lost in this venture. Efforts to obtain comments from Halali co-owner Hussain Al-Ali were unavailing.