Building an export-oriented cricket farming and processing chain

Amid the growing shift toward sustainable agriculture and the use of natural raw materials, Cricket One Co., Ltd. has taken the lead in researching and investing in industrial-scale cricket farming. The company has established a large-scale farming system in partnership with dozens of households in Loc Hung Commune, Dong Nai Province, gradually building a stable and professional raw material supply zone.

Processing line for cricket-based products at Cricket One Co., Ltd. in Loc Ninh Commune, Dong Nai Province. Photo: B. Nguyen

In the same area, Cricket One has invested in an international-standard processing plant that uses advanced technology to produce cricket protein powder and other value-added products. These are supplied to the domestic market and exported to multiple countries worldwide.

Behind this unconventional start-up is Dang Cao Nam, Director of Cricket One Co., Ltd. With creativity and long-term vision, Nam successfully raised significant foreign investment, enabling the construction of a modern cricket processing facility and paving the way for Vietnam’s insect-based protein to reach global markets.

High-Tech Industrial Cricket Farming

Sharing his start-up journey, Dang Cao Nam said: “I chose to raise and process crickets because they are rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. They are a clean source of protein, as crickets are raised solely on food and water, with no antibiotics used. Cricket farming is also environmentally friendly; it’s a green protein source, as producing 1 kilogram of crickets requires only about 1.5 kilograms of feed, 2 liters of water, and emits virtually no greenhouse gases.”

Nam pointed out that producing 1 kilogram of cricket meat is vastly more efficient than other livestock, especially in environmental terms. For the same output, crickets require 10 times less feed, 100 times less land, 100 times less time, and 2,000 times less water than cattle, while generating 100 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions.Nam and his team have been early movers in applying high technology to industrial-scale cricket farming. He explained that the cricket houses are built on a large scale, with insects raised in multi-tiered plastic boxes to save space. The system is equipped with automated watering and harvesting functions, utilizing IoT technology to monitor and regulate environmental conditions. The automatic watering system itself is a patented invention by Cricket One.To ensure feed quality, Nam’s team collaborates with universities to develop specialized feed made from agricultural by-products.

According to Nam, raising crickets in plastic trays offers great flexibility—it allows for easy relocation, quick adjustments, and maximizes space efficiency, making it ideal for replication. A 1,200-square-meter farm can yield up to 8 tonnes of crickets per month, generating around VND 120 million per cycle, with a profit margin of approximately 30%. Before harvesting, farmers collect a batch of eggs to incubate for the next cycle, ensuring continuous production.

Under Cricket One’s contract farming model, farmers only need to invest in building the farming facility. The company supplies rearing boxes, feed, training, technical guidance, and production supervision, and guarantees the purchase of its products. For small-scale farms, the initial investment is around VND 100 million (roughly USD 4,000).

The company currently operates four large-scale cricket farms and partners with dozens of local farmers to maintain a steady, high-quality supply for processing. With a production capacity of hundreds of tonnes of fresh crickets, Cricket One now owns the largest cricket farming network in Asia and ranks among the top three globally.

Thanks to its distinctive model, Cricket One has attracted attention from several international funding initiatives. The start-up won awards and secured investment in the final round of the Young Social Entrepreneurs (YSE) Global programme, organized by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF). It also claimed first prize at the Mekong Agriculture Technology Challenge (MATCH 2018), sponsored by the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Dang Cao Nam, Director of Cricket One Co., Ltd.

Exporting clean protein to global markets

Cricket One’s processing plant, located in Loc Ninh Commune, was built close to the farming zone. Initially, most of its output was exported, as domestic demand remained limited. With internationally certified products, the company has successfully expanded into Europe, Japan, and Singapore, competing directly with global players in the same segment.

Nam explained that the company focused on processing because few consumers are willing to buy whole crickets: “By investing in processing, we make the product more acceptable to consumers. With the right technology, something once considered difficult to sell can become a sought-after delicacy.”

The company now operates a closed-loop value chain encompassing farming, processing, and distribution. It continues to diversify its offerings, producing nutritious food products such as cricket snacks, cricket extract drinks, and cricket noodles, all manufactured under international food-processing standards. These certifications act as a passport for the company to enter major retail chains in the United States and Europe.

According to Nam, no part of the cricket goes to waste. Crickets are processed into various products, including pure cricket powder, defatted powder, and oil-rich powder. The legs, shells, and wings are ground into animal feed and nutritional products, while dried cricket waste serves as an organic fertilizer that supports healthy plant growth.

Besides exports, the company’s processed products are now sold through Big C supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City, where they rank among the best-selling items in modern retail channels. They are also available on major e-commerce platforms, including FoodMap.Asia, Lazada, and Shopee.

During a visit to Cricket One’s farming and processing facilities in Loc Hung Commune, Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, praised the company as a model of high-tech agriculture that has successfully built a closed production and distribution chain from farming to processing and consumption. The model, she noted, delivers strong economic returns and can be replicated by farmers and cooperatives. The province, she added, will continue to support the company’s expansion and brand development.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Thien Kim, Minho