JOY Bugs
- Type
- Farm / Primary Producer
- Location
- Nieuw-Lekkerland, Netherlands
- Industries
- Alternative proteins, Livestock farming, Food ingredients & products, Direct to consumer
- Domains
- Insect based primary products, Grasshopper, Ingredients, Proteins, Protein concentrates, Protein isolates, Feed, Wheat
- Technologies
- Platform technology, Platform & Service technologies
About JOY Bugs
Joy Bugs is a Dutch insect-farming start-up based in Nieuw-Lekkerland. The company focuses on breeding grasshoppers as a healthier, more sustainable, and protein-rich alternative to conventional meat, positioning insects as part of a future-proof food system. (joybugs.nl)
The company says its grasshoppers provide important nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals, and that they are raised on natural feed made only from grass and wheat bran. Joy Bugs also presents itself as a pioneer that began grasshopper farming in 2017 and has since developed its own consumer products under the LOKUS name. (joybugs.nl)
Core Values
- Sustainability: Joy Bugs repeatedly frames its work around a more durable food system, arguing that grasshopper farming uses fewer inputs and is more efficient than conventional meat production. (joybugs.nl)
- Nutrition: The company highlights grasshoppers as a natural source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and presents insect protein as a way to help meet dietary needs. (joybugs.nl)
- Natural production: Joy Bugs states that its grasshoppers are fed only grass and wheat bran, underscoring a simple and natural production approach. (joybugs.nl)
- Innovation: By turning grasshoppers into powder and branded food products, the company positions insect protein as an accessible, modern ingredient for everyday eating. (joybugs.nl)
Unique Aspects
- Grasshopper specialization: Joy Bugs is specifically focused on grasshoppers, not insects in general, which gives it a clear niche in the alternative-protein space. (joybugs.nl)
- Own consumer brand, LOKUS: Beyond farming, the company has developed its own branded products, including powder and prepared foods, showing a move from production into consumer-facing offerings. (joybugs.nl)
- Founded by two friends in 2017: The website says Eysbrand Rozendaal and Peter Stam started the business in the summer of 2017 and have spent years pioneering the concept. (joybugs.nl)
- Nieuw-Lekkerland base: The company operates from Nieuw-Lekkerland, with its contact details and address listed on the website. (joybugs.nl)