Bugs! Could insects be the future of food and feed security?

Entomophagy ˌɛntəˈmɒfədʒi/ - the practice of eating insects for food.
Beyond being a regular game show prop, bugs should be a serious part of our future food conversation. Nutritious and sustainable, the research clearly shows that entomophagy is something that the western world needs to consider to be able to manage the growing population and increasing demands on natural resources.
Are insects a super food? Can they save the planet? Do they have the potential to disrupt the $230bn Agribusiness industry (larger than mining) and the food industry? Join our panel of researchers and industry experts in an informative exploration of the potential of insects as a future food. And yes, there will be bugs for sampling!
Speakers
Dr Bryan (Bry the Fly Guy) Lessard
Dr Bryan Lessard (a.k.a. Bry the Fly Guy) works as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Australian National Insect Collection at CSIRO in Canberra. He continues to research the evolution and classification of soldier flies, most...
Duncan Welgemoed
Duncan Welgemoed is head chef of Africola, a South African restaurant in Adelaide’s East End. Born and raised in South Africa, Duncan is no stranger to insects as food. For several years, Duncan has been at the forefront of ...
Assoc. Prof. Kerry Wilkinson
Associate Professor Wilkinson has a long research history in Oeneology. Current wine-related research includes:
- Oak derived flavour in wine and spirits
- Viticultural management of 'green character...
Dr Jane Bowen
Dr Jane Bowen, BSc (Biomedical), BNutrDiet (Hons), PhD, is a Research Scientist/Research Dietitian for the Food and Nutrition Flagship, within the CSIRO’s Nutrition and Health Program. She conducts her clinical work through ...
Lucas Becker
Lucas is the co-founder of Grilo Protein and also sales and distribution director. His passion about healthy food and sustainability brought him into the edible insects world. Together with his business partners he runs Gril...
Mush’ab Nursantio
Mush’ab’s enthusiasm and interest in the unusual and adventurous led him and his team to enter the ‘Thought For Food’ competition in 2015. They were runner-ups but their idea created ‘Bite Back’ an insect biorefinery startup...
Olympia Yarger
Goterra is the future of farm feed. We believe strongly in the benefits of insect protein in the farming of monogastric livestock and the management of food waste in urban municipalities. Olympia is an innovator and entrepre...
Paula Pownall
Paula Pownall is passionate about agriculture and primary industries, and understood that the pressures for change are paramount. That’s when she asked the question, "Why can't insects replace traditional sources of protein ...
Dr Stephen Pyecroft
Pathology, Infectious Diseases, Forensic Science. BVSc (Hons), PhD, MANZCVSc (Aquatics & Pathology). Dr Pyecroft has an interest in the development of alternative protein sources for livestock particularly the aquacultur...