A Week of Absence- Where Have I Been? Discussing Black Soldier Flies with Researchers from Around the World

Hello Everyone- 
My apologies for being absent all of last week. I was attending the Entomological Society of America meeting in Denver, Colorado. This conference is the largest of its kind in the USA... possibly the world when considering it happens annually.  Needless to say- I was busy running around listening to presentations on research, making new friends and visiting with old friends. Great seeing my buddy, Craig Stoops (Clemson grad)!! Nice to know we can still keep up with the younger generation. :)

As I mentioned, during the conference I had the opportunity to visit with a lot of colleagues about the black soldier fly and its uses in waste management and protein production.

It was great catching up with people I have known for some time. I got to meet with Robert Nathan Alan of Little Herds.  He does such a great job with outreach and educating others on the use of insects as food and feed. If you get a chance- definitely visit his website and learn more about his vision.

Great seeing Marianne Shockley from the University of Georgia. She is doing some great work exploring the digestibility of BSF by cattle. I can't wait to see her results published. Great job organizing a symposium on insects as food and feed.

One person I had the chance to meet for the first time was John Schneider (the researcher- not the actor from Dukes of Hazard fame) at Mississippi State University. He is doing some excellent research exploring light and its impact on mating success of the BSF.

And of course- my colleague and partner, Dr. Heather Jordan was at the meeting. And, she presented results on her research exploring the use of microbes to enhance the digestion waste and production of protein with BSF.

I am sure I am failing to recall others I was able to catch up with (my apologies)- there were just so many people present.

I also had the opportunity to meet new individuals that are doing some cool work with insects as food. I enjoyed learning more about this aspect of insect farming as my work has predominantly focused on insects as feed.

Two companies in particular I enjoyed learning more about were ....

BugeatersFoods out of Nebraska. Julianne and company are doing some great product development with pasta, rice, and much more with insects. 

Cowboy Crickets out of Montana was another company I had the chance to learn more about their vision and products currently available. They have some great items available ranging from chocolate chirp cooks (get it!) to cricket frass.

Such a great meeting... but I am glad to be home and ready to get back to work. I will try to have a post on the blog this week about BSF biology- so we can get back on schedule learning more about BSF. Thanks for your patience.

And as always.... best of luck and happy BSF farming!!!
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Author

Jeff Tomberlin, PhD, Meeting Attendee @ ESA
Twitter: @FliesFacility
​Director, EVO Conversion Systems