The insect farming industry had high expectations for rapid growth, epitomized by Aspire Food Group Canada in London, Ont. As the purported largest cricket farm globally, the 150,000-square-foot automated facility aimed to generate millions of kilograms of protein annually from billions of insects. Crickets are promoted as a sustainable protein source, requiring less land than conventional livestock and offering solutions to global food insecurity.
Despite winning the prestigious $1-million US Hult Prize in 2013 and attracting investments from various countries, including the US, Canada, Ireland, and South Korea, as well as receiving substantial federal loans and grants, the facility faced financial challenges. It commenced operations in 2022, entered receivership in 2025, and the amount of public money recovered remains undisclosed due to a court-ordered seal on the final sale price.
The collapse of the world’s largest cricket farm was not abrupt but rather stemmed from the discrepancy between investor expectations and the sluggish development of the insect consumption market. The reluctance of North Americans to embrace eating insects due to the perceived “yuck factor” hindered market growth, according to Sadaf Mollaei, an assistant professor specializing in sustainable food systems and consumer behavior at the University of Guelph.
Moreover, the high cost of cricket products, such as a 454-gram bag of cricket powder priced at $49.99, poses a barrier to widespread consumer adoption. The industry’s initial optimism for rapid expansion in North America did not materialize, leaving producers in a dilemma: they cannot attract more customers without lowering prices, yet lowering prices without increased demand is challenging.
Darren Goldin, an insect farmer at Entomo Farms in Norwood, Ontario, highlighted the industry’s pricing challenges. Unlike Aspire’s large-scale, automated system, Entomo Farms uses open rooms with “cricket condos” made of cardboard for easy monitoring of insects. Goldin emphasized the need for constant attention in cricket farming to address changes promptly, a task that could be challenging in highly automated setups like Aspire’s.
Court documents revealed that Aspire’s operations in London faced numerous challenges, including environmental differences, design modifications, and equipment issues that led to underperformance. By mid-2024, Aspire operated at half capacity and required significant additional financing to resolve production challenges. Farm Credit Canada was owed approximately $41 million at receivership, with the exact recovery amount undisclosed.
Although the property was sold to Halali Group Holdings in October 2025, the sale price remains confidential due to a court order, leaving uncertainties about the amount of public funds lost. Despite the property taxes being settled, questions linger about the source of payment. Requests for comments from Halali co-owner Hussain Al-Ali went unanswered.
