Farming for Martian bars

A highly automated and digitized insect farm almost 1.5km underground is bringing a new business into the Pyhäsalmi mine infrastructure. The farm is part of a project to develop ways to reuse the facility once mining activities come to a halt in the next few years.

New life for an old mine

Our Pyhäsalmi mine is one of the oldest in Europe and is also the deepest known place on the continent at 1,444m. Mining activity is set to wind down at Pyhäsalmi in the next couple of years, almost 60 years after the mine was established in 1962. As part of preparations to transition the infrastructure to support diverse businesses, a joint project between the town of Pyhäjärvi and its partners is developing ways to reuse the mine and establish an underground operating environment. The aim of Callio Edible Insects from Mine (“CEIFM”) project is to develop sustainable and efficient edible insect production in underground conditions, based on circular economy principles. The main objective of the project is to develop and test a closed production system for edible insects.

As part of the studies, the project would also allow access to international networking and research funding for Mars research opportunities. The concept to be developed can be duplicated in other underground facilities in Finland and abroad. Cooperation with the edible insects industry will be enhanced during the project to create and leverage a basis for future business opportunities.