Insect Farming Initiative Webinar Series
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Dr. Christos Athanassiou
Research Professor in Department of Entomology, Kansas State University
With the increase of the production of edible insects, these quantities will be infested by different pests, especially during their processing and storage. In similar facilities, this problem can be reduced with insecticidal applications, which, apparently, cannot be applied in the case of insect farming, given that insecticides will affect the “beneficial insects”. In this context, care should be taken to adopt targeted control measures that affect pests, but not live insects that are reared for food or feed. In this presentation, some indicative control measures will be illustrated, emphasizing in non-chemical control measures.
About
Christos Athanassiou is the Director of the Insect Farming Initiative and a Research Professor of Entomology at Kansas State University, recognized internationally for his work in insect biology, detection, and the development of chemical and non‑chemical pest management strategies, including innovations in edible insect research. He previously served as a Professor of Entomology at the University of Thessaly in Greece and held positions across the U.S. and Europe, including as a Research Entomologist with USDA‑ARS in Manhattan, Kansas. Dr. Athanassiou has published more than 500 peer‑reviewed papers, delivered over 500 conference presentations, and contributed to books and commercially developed products. Since 2015, he has been Editor in Chief of the Journal of Stored Products Research and serves on multiple editorial boards. With more than 20,000 citations and recognition in leading global research rankings, he has led or collaborated on over 120 funded projects and has served as an expert consultant for major international organizations and research funding programs worldwide.
Research Professor in Department of Entomology, Kansas State University
With the increase of the production of edible insects, these quantities will be infested by different pests, especially during their processing and storage. In similar facilities, this problem can be reduced with insecticidal applications, which, apparently, cannot be applied in the case of insect farming, given that insecticides will affect the “beneficial insects”. In this context, care should be taken to adopt targeted control measures that affect pests, but not live insects that are reared for food or feed. In this presentation, some indicative control measures will be illustrated, emphasizing in non-chemical control measures.
About
Christos Athanassiou is the Director of the Insect Farming Initiative and a Research Professor of Entomology at Kansas State University, recognized internationally for his work in insect biology, detection, and the development of chemical and non‑chemical pest management strategies, including innovations in edible insect research. He previously served as a Professor of Entomology at the University of Thessaly in Greece and held positions across the U.S. and Europe, including as a Research Entomologist with USDA‑ARS in Manhattan, Kansas. Dr. Athanassiou has published more than 500 peer‑reviewed papers, delivered over 500 conference presentations, and contributed to books and commercially developed products. Since 2015, he has been Editor in Chief of the Journal of Stored Products Research and serves on multiple editorial boards. With more than 20,000 citations and recognition in leading global research rankings, he has led or collaborated on over 120 funded projects and has served as an expert consultant for major international organizations and research funding programs worldwide.
Dr. Loretta Mugo-Kamiri
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Georgia
Insect mass rearing environments are excellent conditions for the growth and spread of pathogens, something that we see in the mass production of other forms of livestock as well. This presents a great challenge for the industry due to the risk of colony collapse and economic losses caused by diseases. There is therefore a need to produce healthy insect colonies given the growing importance of this industry. In this webinar, I will highlight the important groups of pathogens identified as problematic for insects reared for food, feed and other uses, diagnosis methods and measures that can be taken to limit future outbreaks or even treat existing ones.
About
Loretta is a graduate of the EU Marie-Curie program INSECT DOCTORS that was aimed at training young scientists to develop knowledge and technical skills necessary to manage disease-causing pathogens in insects that are mass reared for food, feed and other biotechnology applications. Loretta’s work in this program focused on the role of diet and microbiome on resistance and susceptibility to diseases. She is now a postdoc at the University of Georgia still studying host-symbiont interactions and how they affect immunity but in an insect vector model.
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Georgia
Insect mass rearing environments are excellent conditions for the growth and spread of pathogens, something that we see in the mass production of other forms of livestock as well. This presents a great challenge for the industry due to the risk of colony collapse and economic losses caused by diseases. There is therefore a need to produce healthy insect colonies given the growing importance of this industry. In this webinar, I will highlight the important groups of pathogens identified as problematic for insects reared for food, feed and other uses, diagnosis methods and measures that can be taken to limit future outbreaks or even treat existing ones.
About
Loretta is a graduate of the EU Marie-Curie program INSECT DOCTORS that was aimed at training young scientists to develop knowledge and technical skills necessary to manage disease-causing pathogens in insects that are mass reared for food, feed and other biotechnology applications. Loretta’s work in this program focused on the role of diet and microbiome on resistance and susceptibility to diseases. She is now a postdoc at the University of Georgia still studying host-symbiont interactions and how they affect immunity but in an insect vector model.
Dr. David Whitworth
Professor, Aberystwyth University in Wales, United Kingdom
Outbreaks of entomopathogens pose serious threats to edible insect farming. While good infection control practices can limit the introduction of new pathogens, active disease can still arise from endogenous, covert infections that become destabilised. Manipulating the insect microbiome offers one potential strategy to prevent dysbiosis and suppress opportunistic pathogens.
We have recently been investigating whether myxobacteria—a phylum of non pathogenic, soil dwelling microbial predators—can protect farmed insects from disease. Our experiments involve challenging insects with fungal entomopathogens in the presence or absence of myxobacteria, alongside characterising how both myxobacteria and pathogens influence the insect microbiome. Early results indicate that myxobacteria are not harmful to insects, do not themselves induce dysbiosis, and can confer protection against entomopathogenic infection. These findings suggest that myxobacteria may have potential as a safe, microbiome compatible component of insect farming health management.
About
Prof. Dave Whitworth has been a member of Aberystwyth University for 18 years, where he leads the biochemistry and biomedical science teaching programmes. His research group studies predatory myxobacteria, with a focus on how these remarkable organisms have evolved to hunt and kill other microbes. By integrating omics, biochemical, and phenotypic methods, his work has shed light on the vesicles and metabolites secreted by natural myxobacterial isolates and their potent antimicrobial activities. In recent years, he has expanded his research into agricultural applications, investigating how myxobacteria could serve as biological control agents to protect crop plants and edible insects from damaging fungal and bacterial pathogens.
Professor, Aberystwyth University in Wales, United Kingdom
Outbreaks of entomopathogens pose serious threats to edible insect farming. While good infection control practices can limit the introduction of new pathogens, active disease can still arise from endogenous, covert infections that become destabilised. Manipulating the insect microbiome offers one potential strategy to prevent dysbiosis and suppress opportunistic pathogens.
We have recently been investigating whether myxobacteria—a phylum of non pathogenic, soil dwelling microbial predators—can protect farmed insects from disease. Our experiments involve challenging insects with fungal entomopathogens in the presence or absence of myxobacteria, alongside characterising how both myxobacteria and pathogens influence the insect microbiome. Early results indicate that myxobacteria are not harmful to insects, do not themselves induce dysbiosis, and can confer protection against entomopathogenic infection. These findings suggest that myxobacteria may have potential as a safe, microbiome compatible component of insect farming health management.
About
Prof. Dave Whitworth has been a member of Aberystwyth University for 18 years, where he leads the biochemistry and biomedical science teaching programmes. His research group studies predatory myxobacteria, with a focus on how these remarkable organisms have evolved to hunt and kill other microbes. By integrating omics, biochemical, and phenotypic methods, his work has shed light on the vesicles and metabolites secreted by natural myxobacterial isolates and their potent antimicrobial activities. In recent years, he has expanded his research into agricultural applications, investigating how myxobacteria could serve as biological control agents to protect crop plants and edible insects from damaging fungal and bacterial pathogens.
Ask the seminar presenters any questions!