Get The Bug

In this episode you will listen to the conversation I recorded with David Giron, CNRS research director and IRBI director.The Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (IRBI) is a research institute located in Tours, France. Established in 1960 the institute has evolved into a multidisciplinary center integrating ecology, physiology, genetics, chemistry, physics, bioinformatics, and mathematics. Understanding how insects react to environmental changes in particular is a major challenge in order to preserve the sustainable functioning of ecosystems and halt the loss of biodiversity, ensure sustainable food production strategies and minimise the health risks associated with disease-carrying and invasive insects. The Institute therefore focuses part of its activities on insects as a solution, for example through the production of insects as an innovative source of bioconversion of organic matter.Insect farming is growing globally, with France and the Netherlands leading the way. While insect consumption has cultural significance in some regions, there’s a growing recognition of its potential as a future food source in Europe. However, public perception still links insect consumption with poverty.David emphasizes the importance of collaboration between research and industry to anticipate and address challenges such as disease management, insect welfare, and regulation. The opportunity exists to optimize the industry from the start, learning from research to avoid future missteps.With David, we discussed insect welfare, potential risks in insect farming, the biodiversity crisis, mismatches, and the current French insect farming landscape.My name is Umberto Diecinove, I am a documentary photographer and I am currently leading a project titled I N S C T S which explores the potential role of insects in addressing environmental and social challenges. I’m doing it traveling, photographing research centres, farms, communities and companies all over the world and engaging with world experts, visionary entrepreneurs, activists and people working in the field. I do believe insects could be the next game changer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode you will listen to the conversation I recorded with Nathan Preteseille, insects as food and feed expert, AFFIA Founder, project manager at at La Compagnie des Insectes, and Vouvray producer.We talked about regulatory limitations in Europe, South East Asia and US, unlocking the insects potential in agriculture, frass, the insect-based biofertilzer - and French wine.Nathan shared how his background in biochemistry and food engineering led him to the insect industry, particularly in Thailand, during a pivotal time of growth around 2014. He co-founded AFFIA in 2016 to unite actors in this space, emphasising the role of regulation in enabling or hindering industry development. Nathan detailed the evolution of insect-related regulations in Europe and Southeast Asia, noting Europe’s leadership in setting clear but stringent rules, contrasting with Southeast Asia’s approach and the U.S.’s more flexible, opportunity-driven regulatory landscape.He discussed challenges like limited use of food waste for insect feed due to strict regulations and he highlighted the potential of insects in sustainable food and feed systems but stressed that regulation remains a critical barrier to scaling these opportunities globally.My name is Umberto Diecinove, I am a documentary photographer and I am currently leading a project titled I N S C T S which explores the potential role of insects in addressing environmental and social challenges. I’m doing it traveling, photographing research centres, farms, communities and companies all over the world and engaging with world experts and people working in the field. I do believe insects could be the next game changer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode you will listen to the conversation I recorded with David Eshed, from FreezeM. David is in charge of the business development of FreezeM, an Israeli company focused on the breeding stage of Black Soldier Fly. We talked about bad waste and good news, insect protein production, vertical integration and specialisation within the industry, and the present and the future of the sector.We explored the significance of Black Soldier Fly in addressing global waste management and sustainable protein needs. While BSF larvae can effectively manage organic waste and provide an alternative protein source, their adoption remains limited due to challenges in breeding and transportation. David explained that breeding is essential for scaling BSF production. He highlighted FreezeM’s innovative PauseM technology, which allows for the shipment of paused BSF neonates at room temperature, facilitating access for farmers. The conversation also touched on the competitive landscape, where David acknowledged that the BSF industry currently cannot compete with traditional protein sources like fishmeal... "but we will get there.” Furthermore, he discussed the need to utilize waste that other industries cannot. We also talked about regulatory barriers around feeding practices for BSF in Europe, though David again expressed optimism about ongoing tests that could validate the safety of BSF processing urban post-consumer waste. The industry is evolving from vertical integration to specialization, David forecasts that in the next decade, small to medium-sized operations will dominate the market, the mantra is: "bring the larvae to the waste, not the waste to the larvae".My name is Umberto Diecinove, I am a documentary photographer and I am currently leading a project titled I N S C T S which explores the potential role of insects in addressing environmental and social challenges. I’m doing it traveling, photographing research centres, farms, communities and companies all over the world and engaging with world experts, visionary entrepreneurs, activists and people working in the field. I do believe insects could be the next game changer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode you will listen to the conversation I recorded in Singapore with Dennis Oonincx and Teun Veldkamp from Wageningen University, Shaphan Chia, from the ICIPE, Kenya, Karol Barragán Fonseca, professor at the Universidad Nacional De Colombia and “Insects For Peace” founder, and Micheal Place and David Eshed, from two companies: Chapul Farms and FreezeM.Dennis Oonincx discussed the current hype around frass. He highlighted that while frass is gaining attention, similar to how black soldier flies did initially, it's still uncertain if frass will become the primary product, with BSF larvae taking a secondary role. Dennis pointed out that while the protein value of insects is well established, the science around frass is still lacking. Despite this, frass shows promise with antimicrobial peptides and other value-added products. Currently, while people believe in the value of frass, serious work on optimization is still to be done.Shaphan Chia - who has recently moved to Nairobi, Kenya at the ICIPE - observed that investors are showing increasing interest in insect production, which provides hope for those skeptical about its feasibility. He emphasized economic sustainability is essential for long-term business viability, investors' commitment to the sector is encouraging. He highlighted that profitability needs to follow for the industry to thrive in the long run and the fact that combining the sale of insects and frass can enhance profitability. In Kenya, the increasing involvement of farmers in insect production for various purposes reflects the survey results from 2020.Shaphan added that at ICIPE, they are working on mass-producing grasshoppers by mimicking their wild conditions, given their status as a delicacy in countries like Uganda.Karol Barragán Fonseca gave us good news: the *Insects for Peace* project is expanding, with a new facility being set up with the indigenous Arhuaco community to integrate black soldier flies into their agroecological practices.Michael, with his appreciated ability to connect the dots, noted that while the protein crunch initially drove the insect farming industry, the recent surge in fertilizer prices highlights another issue. He pointed out that the agro-food system has underinvested in understanding soil as a living biological ecosystem. In his opinion, the real promise of frass lies in its potential to rebuild soil infrastructure and reduce dependence on hydrocarbon inputs.David Eshed discussed FreezeM’s specialization in supplying Black Soldier neonate larvae to BSF farms. David emphasized that newer companies should focus on specialization for future success. He believes there is potential for collaboration between established and newer companies.Teun Veldkamp introduced us to the brand new Academic Society for Insects as Food and Feed. My name is Umberto Diecinove, I am a documentary photographer and I am currently leading a project titled I N S C T S which explores the potential role of insects in addressing environmental and social challenges. I’m doing it traveling, photographing research centres, farms, communities and companies all over the world and engaging with world experts, visionary entrepreneurs, activists and people working in the field. I do believe insects could be the next game changer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.