Insects are nature's own waste managers. They can be reared on almost any biodegradable material and can then be used as feedstock in animal feed. In this way, insects can be used to link food production with waste management, achieving circularity in our food systems. However, insect farming is not inherently sustainable and is greatly influenced by both the substrate on which the insects are reared and the farming practices. Over the past 10 years, significant progress has been made in insect production in Europe, and today there are many actors in the insect industry.

Cecilia Lalander is Associate Professor in technology at the Department of Energy and Technology, and she has been researching the use of insects in waste management since 2011. In this presentation, Cecilia will go through the factors that affect the sustainability of insect production and describe the opportunities the insect sector in Europe has, as well as the challenges this new sector face.