The 2nd International Conference “Insects to Feed the World” (IFW 2018) will take place during 15-20 May, 2018 in Wuhan, China, and is organized by Huazhong Agricultural University.
The 1st International Conference “Insects to feed the world” was held from 14-17 May 2014 in Ede (Wageningen), the Netherlands. Dr. Arnold van Huis and Dr. Paul Vantomme (FAO senior officer) served as the chair persons. The conference brought together for the first time the largest assembly of stakeholders from all over the world to consider key aspects of collection, production, processing, nutrition, marketing and consumption related to insects in a global multi-stakeholder dialogue. The conference marked an important step towards mobilizing the potential of insects as human food and animal feed to contribute to global food security and in particular to exchange information on the feasibility of mass rearing of insects to increase the availability of animal proteins in a more sustainable way.
The 2nd International Conference “Insects to Feed the World” aims to address all aspects related to insects as food and feed and will bring together research scientists, government officials and private sector representatives from the food and feed sector from both developing and developed countries. The overall objective of the conference is to further explore the potential of edible insects for food and feed security.
Specific objectives (still updating):
General overview of our present food/feed production systems and the role of insects.
General overview of using insects in China for food, feed and healthcare.
Ethno-entomology: history and status of use of edible insects by specific peoples in given countries.
Farming insects as food and feed.
Nutrition, processing and conservation of edible insects.
Insects as food and feed components and supplements.
Environmental issues in gathering and farming insects.
Food safety, legislation and policy.
Market analysis and economic evaluation.
Consumer attitudes.
Need for further research and policy formulation, resources science, biology and ecology of edible insects.
The conference targets people from all over the world and we invite all to participate in activities such as oral and poster presentations, discussion groups, and symposia. Prominent experts from diverse backgrounds will update us about the newest developments. All attendants are welcome to actively participate in the various activities, including the excursions to be organized during the last day to scientific institutes, private enterprises and the catering industry.
In case of any need of assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Dr. Longyu Zheng (Huazhong Agricultural University, China. Email: ly.zheng@mail.hzau.edu.cn), Dr. Arnold van Huis (Wageningen University, the Netherlands. Email: arnold.vanhuis@wur.nl), and Dr. Jeffery K. Tomberlin (Texas A&M University, USA. Email: jktomberlin@tamu.edu).
