Presentation

Confirmed speakers

Click on the name to display the abstract

• Karol Barragán-Fonseca, National University of Colombia - CO

  

  Karol Barragán-Fonseca

  National University of Colombia

  Address:  Carrera 30 #45-03, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Bogotá, Colombia

    Email: kbbarraganf@unal.edu.co

  Karol is an Associate Professor at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, coordinating the Insects for Peace initiative to promote social transformation through insect-based solutions. She leads the Insect Network within the Latin American Association of Animal Production and the Insectonomy project, which explores the multidimensional role of insects in agri-food systems. Her work focuses on insect farming for feed and food, circular economy models, and bioeconomy. Karol combines science with art and storytelling, currently writing a literature-based book about insects and engaging in science communication and policy discussions on sustainable agri-food systems.

  Insectonomy: Rethinking insect management through science and creative communication

  Insects play essential socio-ecological roles in agrifood systems by contributing to provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services. Their ability to recycle nutrients, pollinate crops, control pests, and provide food and feed makes them integral to ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. As global agrifood systems face increasing pressures from resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, recognizing the ecological and economic significance of insects is essential for building more resilient and sustainable food systems. Insectonomy explores the role of insect management and how stakeholders involved in different approaches—such as conservation, pest control, wild gathering, and insect farming—perceive and interact with insects. Understanding these perspectives helps identify strategies to optimize the socio-ecological roles of insects while addressing challenges such as disease transmission, environmental trade-offs, and competition with native species. Their contributions extend beyond animal feed to human food, biofertilizers, organic waste conversion, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Insect-based production also creates new income opportunities for rural communities, enhancing food security, supporting local economies, and strengthening social resilience. These contributions reinforce circular agriculture and support bioeconomic growth by integrating insects into sustainable production systems. Beyond management, Insectonomy also innovates in the way science is communicated. By integrating scientific research with creative approaches such as visual art and storytelling, it creates new ways to engage stakeholders and shift perceptions of insects from pests to valuable allies. This approach strengthens the connection between scientific knowledge and practical solutions, encouraging collaborative strategies that enhance food security, environmental resilience, and rural development. 

• Olivier Dangles, French Research Institute for Development - EC

  

  Olivier Dangles

  French Research Institute for Development

  Address:  Alemania N32-188 y Guayanas / Apartado postal 17-12-857

  Quito - Ecuador

    Email: Olivier.dangles@ird.fr

  Olivier Dangles is a director of investigations at the French Research Institute for Development. His research, firmly rooted in an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability science, focuses on the response of biodiversity to global changes, both in natural and man-influenced ecosystems, mainly in the tropical Andes. He has been an associate researcher in several foreign universities for 15 years (Ecuador, Bolivia, USA), and is currently based at the Catholic University of Ecuador, where he co-directs an International Laboratory WASILAB between Ecuador and France. His work has been the subject of more than 200 scientific publications, six books and numerous scientific communications. 

  Modelling approaches coupling physical, biological and social systems in agricultural entomology

  Understanding insect population dynamics in agricultural landscapes requires integrating physical, biological, and social factors. This talk explores advanced modelling approaches that bridge these domains, focusing on agent-based models (ABMs) as a key tool. ABMs simulate individual insects, crops, and human decision-making, capturing emergent behaviors in complex agroecosystems.

  We will discuss how these models integrate environmental drivers (e.g., climate, landscape heterogeneity), biological processes (e.g., pest population dynamics, natural enemy interactions), and human interventions (e.g., pesticide use, habitat management). Case studies will illustrate applications in integrated pest management (IPM) and sustainable agriculture. The talk will also address challenges such as data integration, model validation, and computational constraints. By combining multiple scales and disciplines, these approaches provide valuable insights for designing resilient agricultural systems that balance productivity with ecological sustainability.
   

• Marcel Dicke, Wageningen University & Research - NL

  

  Marcel Dicke

  Wageningen University & Research

  Address:  Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen - The Netherlands

  Email: marcel.dicke@wur.nl

  Marcel Dicke is professor of Entomology at Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. His main interest is in the ecology of insects and insect ecosystem services with a focus on ecology-driven pest management, insects as food and feed and circular agriculture. In 2007 he received the Spinoza award (also known as Dutch Nobel Prize) for his research. His general interest is in using insects to solve societal problems and challenges. He is strongly involved in research on edible insects and in promoting insects as the food of the future and is one of the authors of The Insect Cookbook (Columbia University Press, New York, USA; http://tinyurl.com/pjgbxxl), that features not only recipes but also interviews with e.g. the late Kofi Annan (former Secretary General of the United Nations). See also Marcel Dicke’s TED talk “Why not eat insects?“: http://on.ted.com/j05sk.  

  Partnering with insects

  We live on a planet where insects are a dominant life form, providing extensive and important ecosystem services that support life on this planet. To integrate insect services, we need to understand the perspectives of farmers, policymakers, NGOs, and industry. Biodiversity is largely represented by insects—they shape ecosystems through pollination, decomposition, and food web stability. Their roles extend beyond ecological interactions; they influence food production, climate resilience, and sustainable resource use. By understanding their vital role, circular agricultural systems can be designed to enhance food production without harming natural resources or accelerating climate change. But this transition requires engagement with diverse stakeholders. On one hand, targeted interventions can optimize pest control, pollination, and insect-derived resources. On the other, biodiversity-rich landscapes must be cultivated to sustain ecological balance. An important question then is: How do the diverse stakeholders see insects? Understanding these perspectives is crucial to implementing effective policies and strategies for sustainable agrifood systems that focus on a multidimensional sustainable future.

• Menale Kassie, International Insect Physiology & Ecology (ICIPE) - KE

  

  Menale Kassie

  International Insect Physiology & Ecology (ICIPE) 

  Address:  Nairobi, Kenya

  Email: mkassie@icipe.org

  Menale Kassie is an experienced Development Economist with over 18 years of expertise in policy research and impact evaluation. His work specializes in evaluating bundled innovations, insect farming innovations, pollination services, gender and scaling research, and policy engagement. He has authored over 104 peer-reviewed articles, accumulating 19,580 Google Scholar citations (H-index: 65), with his research cited in 460+ policy documents. His extensive career includes key roles at CIMMYT and the University of Gothenburg (Sweden). Menale is globally recognized with multiple awards, including the TWAS Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences. He is ranked among the top 2% of global scientists by Stanford University and acknowledged as a highly cited researcher by Clarivate.

  Insect ecosystem services from socioeconomic perspective

  This presentation highlights the socioeconomic and ecological value of insect-based systems, demonstrating their contributions to food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development. Focusing on pollination services, pest regulation, and Black Soldier Fly (BSF)-based waste utilization, it explores how insects support sustainable agrifood systems and livelihoods. Insects provide critical ecosystem services, including pollination, waste decomposition, soil enrichment, and natural pest control, enhancing agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Pollinators contribute billions of dollars annually by improving crop yields, food quality, and ecosystem stability. Meanwhile, BSF larvae serve as a nature-based solution for organic waste management, efficiently converting food scraps, manure, and agricultural residues into high-value proteins and biofertilizers. This process reduces landfill waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and supports circular economies. The insect-based industries also create employment opportunities through food, feed, and biofertilizer markets. However, despite their socioeconomic and ecological value, insect populations face threats from habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, regulatory barriers, and consumer resistance. Addressing these challenges requires integrating insect ecosystem and economic services into sustainability policies, fostering conservation initiatives, public awareness, and promoting their socioeconomic potential. Understanding their contributions will drive evidence-based interventions that strengthen food security, resilience, and sustainable development.

• Thais Nunez-Rocha, Orléans Economics Laboratory (LEO) - FR

  

  Thais Nunez-Rocha

  Orléans Economics Laboratory (LEO)

  Address:  Faculty of Law, Economics & Management
  2e étage, bureau A209, Bât. A - Rue de Blois BP 6739
  45067 Orléans CEDEX 2 - France

  Email: thais.nunez-rocha@univ-orleans.fr

  Thaís is an Associate Professor, specializing in international trade, environmental regulation, natural resources, and climate change. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics, her dissertation explored the intersection of trade and environmental policies. Thaís’s research employs advanced econometric methods, and she has published extensively in respected journals. Her ongoing projects include creating empirical legal indicators of environmental law, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams spanning law, data science, and economics. Beyond academia, she has consulted for international organizations like the World Bank and held policy-oriented roles in the Ecuadorian government. As an experienced mentor, she has supervised numerous Ph.D. and master’s students and organized key academic conferences.

  Sustainable development Economics and Biodiversity

  This presentation explores the intersection of sustainable development economics and environmental stewardship, emphasizing definitions, key concepts, and practical examples. Sustainable development integrates economic growth with environmental preservation and social equity, aiming to meet current needs without compromising future generations' resources. Central to this approach are environmental services—benefits derived from ecosystems, such as clean air, water, pollination, and climate regulation, which underpin economic and societal well-being.
  The presentation highlights some examples and the relationship between international trade and biodiversity, examining how trade policies impact ecosystems. While trade can promote economic development, it may also lead to habitat loss and biodiversity depletion if regulations are weak. Using case studies, we discuss how sustainable trade practices, environmental provisions in trade agreements, and certifications can mitigate these effects. This interdisciplinary approach underscores the importance of aligning trade policies with biodiversity conservation to foster a truly sustainable global economy. The session concludes by highlighting the critical role of policy and collaboration in achieving sustainable development goals.
   

Partners of the event