Investments received by the insect feed sector in 2018 were 40 percent higher than for the previous four years combined, Rabobank analysts found.

Some of the largest investments were attracted by UK-based AgriProtein, Protix from the Netherlands and France's Ynsect and InnovaFeed, which last month secured an additional €40 million ($45.5 million) of financing.

These businesses stand out because of their ability to secure partnerships with companies with different links along the value chain or rapidlyexpanding product lines geographical coverage, Rabobank said.