On September 7 and 8, the 6th INSECTA® International Conference, an international platform for the use of insects, took place. This year PPM Magdeburg in cooperation with ATB Potsdam hosted the conference in the St. Johanniskirche in Magdeburg as hybrid event.
More than 200 participants from all continents discussed insect-related topics and enjoyed the very real personal exchange on site and via the well organized online channels.
For the first time, insect health and protection were also on the agenda. "Insect welfare & health" was the title of the keynote by Nils Grabowski, who in this context also presented the "International network for productive insects' health and welfare", which has been operating since 2019.
A major topic of the conference was the use of insects as animal feed. Just in time for the start of the conference, the EU Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1372[1] came into force, authorizing the use of processed animal proteins from insects (insect PAPs) in poultry and pig feed within the EU. This opens up new opportunities to exploit the advantages of insect proteins in terms of resource and climate protection.
Other topics at the meeting included food safety issues associated with the use of insects, production systems, and the use of insects as food and in non-food applications.
A special highlight was the presentation by Dr. Mark Oliver Benecke, probably one of the best known forensic entomologists. In his wake-up call, he described the expected changes and risks due to climate change.
Mark Benecke's keynote on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz7c5ED_NuM
ATB and PPM Magdeburg are alternately hosting the annual INSECTA® conference.
The event addresses science and business from the fields of agriculture and insect breeding, food and feed production, as well as lawyers and veterinarians.
The next INSECTA® will take place September 14-16, 2022, chaired by ATB, at the LOEWE Center for Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources in Giessen, Germany.
Further information on INSECTA®:
ATB's research on insects as bioresource
Contact ATB: Dr. Oliver Schlüter