IFI Webinar Series

• Independent

This presentation will provide a practical overview of the U.S. regulatory framework governing insect farming and insect-derived products. It will explain how an insect species, its rearing substrate, the manufacturing process, the intended use, and the proposed product claims collectively determine the applicable regulatory pathway. The presentation will outline the respective roles of federal agencies, state regulators, AAFCO, AAPFCO, and other standard-setting organisations. Special attention will be given to animal-feed ingredient approval pathways, including FDA consultation processes and the new AAFCO–K-State Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS) program. The session will also address facility and feed-safety requirements, labeling, state product registration, and the regulation of frass, fertilizers, soil amendments, and plant biostimulants. Attendees will learn why regulatory acceptance of an insect species does not necessarily authorise every rearing substrate, finished product, intended animal species, or marketing claim.

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• Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, University of Thessaly, Volos

The lesser mealworm or buffalo worm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) and the superworm, Zophobas morio (F) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are two beetles with increasing relevance for insect farming and the development of alternative food and feed ingredients. Despite their common taxonomic background, these two insects differ considerably in their current level of exploitation, available rearing knowledge and prospects for large-scale production. While A. diaperinus has received increasing scientific and commercial attention, Z. morio remains a comparatively underexploited species with promising characteristics for insect-based food and feed production. The presentation will provide an overview of the biological and rearing characteristics of both species, with particular emphasis on factors affecting growth, development, productivity and large-scale production. Their capacity to utilise different feeding substrates and organic side-streams, together with their nutritional and functional potential, will also be discussed. Particular attention will be given to current limitations in efficient and sustainable mass rearing, including species-specific biological constraints, production scalability and the need for further optimisation of rearing protocols. Regulatory and market-related considerations relevant to their wider utilisation in different geographical regions, will also be addressed.

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