About ASIFF

Wageningen University

Teun Veldkamp is senior researcher animal nutrition / insects as feed in the Animal Nutrition department of Wageningen Livestock Research. Since 2012 Dr. Veldkamp is most involved in (inter)national projects related to insects as feed, food and non-food. Dr. Veldkamp was coordinator of the H2020 project SUSINCHAIN (Sustainable Insect Chain) and is the former president of the Study Commission Insects of the European Federation of Animal Science (2016-2022). From June 2024 he is President of the Academic Society for Insects as Food and Feed. Furthermore he is member of the editorial board of the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed and member of the Management Board of the Journal ‘Animal’.

Université Laval

As a biologist specialized in ecology, physiology and animal nutrition, I work to find innovative solutions in animal production. Since 2015, I am particularly interested in the valorization of residual organic matter and the mass production of edible insects in order to redirect them to animal feed. My work aims to acquire and transfer new knowledge in this emerging field; create a stimulating research environment to address the various issues of the sector and, acting as a structuring actor of the sector, a general effort to implement an applied model of circular economy and optimize the exploitation of agri-food resources in Quebec.

Indiana University

Christine J. Picard is a professor at Indiana University, specializing in insect genetics and biotechnology to advance insect agriculture and bioengineered products. She co-Directs the Center for Environmental Sustainability through Insect Farming (CEIF). Her research focused on improving insect production and scaling infrastructure for the bioeconomy. Her work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and applied entomology to develop innovative solutions for sustainable food, waste management, and biomaterial production.

University of Copenhagen

Nanna Roos is Associate Professor in Human Nutrition at University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Researching local food resources for improving child nutrition in Asia and Africa, edible insects came to Dr. Roos’ attention. Since 2013, Dr. Roos has led collaborative research exploring the potential of farming edible insects for improving livelihood, nutrition and health in Africa, and for sustainable healthy diets in Europe.

Huazhong Agricultural University

Longyu Zheng is Associate Professor in Bioengineering at Huazhong Agricultural University, China. Since 2005, his research has centered on the interactions between insects and microorganisms, particularly the developmental biology, microbial ecology, and behavior of resource insects like Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) and Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm). He co-developed an innovative insect-microbe joint biotransformation technology to advance the upcycling of organic waste and create sustainable solutions, such as protein-rich functional feeds and microbial fertilizers, for agriculture and livestock industries. Additionally, he serves on multiple committees within the Chinese Entomological Society, including the Resource Insect Committee, the Insect Microbiome Committee, and the Insect Science and Technology Advisory and Development Committee.

Curtin’s Institute, Spectrum

David’s 40+year career includes chemical engineering, management and diverse development work. Australian and based in SE Asia for more than 20 years working on sustainability topics, he is Founder and Executive Director of Spectrum – Sustainable Development Knowledge Network in Myanmar. Edible insects for both food and feed are active operational and research priorities. He has 6 terms on AFFIA’s Excom, 3 as VP, and is an adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin’s Institute for Energy Transition and UQ’s Energy & Poverty Research Group.

Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute

Diana Bogueva is a social scientist with a PhD from Curtin University, specializing in sustainable food consumption, generational consumer behavior, food and masculinity, alternative proteins, novel food processing technologies, and food sustainability and harmonization. Her work has received several prestigious awards, including at the 24th and 28th Gourmand Awards, often likened to the Oscars for food books, for her edited book “Environmental, Health and Business Opportunities in the New Meat Alternatives Market” (2019) and co-authored book “Food in a Planetary Emergency” (2022). Her recent co-edited book “Nutrition Science, Marketing Nutrition, Health Claims, and Public Policy” (2023) is a finalist at the Association of American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) Awards. Diana is currently a Research Fellow at the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, where she also teaches the “People and Planet” unit as part of the Masters in Sustainability and Built Environment. She is the President of the Global Harmonization Initiative, headquartered in Vienna, and serves as a Board Member and Chair of the Consumer Perception Working Group.

Wageningen University

Emeritus Professor Arnold van Huis served as a tropical entomologist at Wageningen University, where he led multiple projects focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological control in tropical regions. In 2013, he published the book Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has been downloaded millions of times. In the field of edible insects, Prof. van Huis has (co-)authored several books, contributed to 15 book chapters, and published 35 peer-reviewed articles, along with 40 non-refereed publications. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. He is a frequent speaker, delivering numerous presentations on insects as food and feed, both within the Netherlands and internationally.

Wageningen University