Essento: Europe’s Insect Food Pioneer
Essento is shaking up the European food scene as the pioneer in edible insects. Since 2013, this innovative company has been active across Europe, sparking legislative changes—starting in Switzerland—that paved the way for insects to be approved as food. Essento isn’t just about selling products; it’s about developing, producing, and marketing unique specialties made from edible insects for retail, gastronomy, and online trade. Their mission? To create real added value for both people and the environment. Pretty cool, right?
Main Benefits of Essento’s Insect Food Revolution
Essento’s work brings a bunch of impressive benefits to the table:
- 🇨🇭 Developed in Switzerland, produced in the EU 🇪🇺
- ⭐ 10-day money-back guarantee ⭐
- Free shipping on orders over €40
- Active since 2013, leading legislative change for edible insects
- Member of IPIFF since 2017, advocating for edible insects at the European level
- Recognized as one of the Top 50 FoodTech Start-ups in Europe (2018)
- Awarded as an EIT Rising Food Star
Meet the Team Behind Essento
Behind every great project, there’s a great team. Essento’s crew is no exception. Christian Bärtsch, the founder and CEO, is the strategic brain, steering the company’s international projects. Then there’s Franzi Kuttruff, the operations whiz, juggling events, accounting, purchasing, and logistics to keep everything running smoothly. And let’s not forget Benjamin Steiner, a trained veterinarian who makes sure the partner farms practice species-appropriate animal husbandry and maintain top-notch breeding conditions. Together, they make the magic happen.
Guidance from Experts: The Advisory Board
Essento doesn’t go it alone. They’ve got a stellar advisory board packed with experts from various fields:
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Brunner – Consumer Behavior Lecturer at HAFL
- Michelle Grant – Managing Director at the World Food System Center, ETHZ
- Patrick Zbinden – Culinary Expert
- Dirk Zwanzig – Head of R&D in the Food Industry
- Dr. Diego Moretti
This diverse group helps Essento stay at the cutting edge of food innovation and consumer trends.
Partnerships That Push the Industry Forward
Since 2017, Essento has been an active member of IPIFF, the European association based in Brussels that champions edible insects. This partnership strengthens their voice in the industry and helps push forward the acceptance and integration of insect-based foods across Europe. It’s all about collaboration and making entomophagy a mainstream choice.
Essento’s Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Providing sustainable protein alternatives
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting eco-friendly food sources
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Reducing environmental footprint through insect farming
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Supporting biodiversity by offering sustainable farming options
Driving the Food Revolution and Changing Perceptions
Essento isn’t just selling insect food—they’re on a mission to educate and raise awareness about entomophagy. They want to make eating insects not just acceptable, but fashionable across Europe. By engaging with the public and sharing knowledge, Essento is helping to drive a food revolution that benefits both people and the planet. It’s a bold vision, and they’re making it happen, one crunchy bite at a time.
