In this episode, you will hear from Arnold van Huis, emeritus professor at Wageningen University and one of the world’s leading pioneers in the edible-insect sector, and Laura Gasco from the University of Torino, who will coordinate the Insects to Feed the World conference (June 9–12, 2026, in Torino).

We discussed common misconceptions and doubts surrounding edible insects, addressing legitimate questions while distinguishing them from misinformation or even intentional distortions. Among the topics we covered were food safety, chitin, the carbon footprint of insect farming, and potential environmental risks. Professor Van Huis also shared his views on the growing potential of insect farming today and the need for supportive public policies and effective science communication.

Laura added a couple of key points to the conversation:

“Insects are considered farmed animals, and because of that, they can only be fed with materials listed in the Catalogue of Feed Materials under Regulation (EU) 2022/1104. But outside Europe the rules are different, and this means the sector can evolve much more sustainably. I’m convinced that in Europe former products containing meat and fish, or catering waste, could be valuable and safe substrates, and research can play a key role in this process.”

She also introduced us to the next edition of Insects to Feed the World. The venue will be the Lingotto Conference Center in Torino, and the call for abstracts is already open, with a deadline of January 23rd. All information is available on the conference website: https://www.ifw2026.org.

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