Food security is a major global concern for the future. Currently, our agricultural model is not positioned to adequately feed an expected population of 10 billion people by 2050. Insects, a sustainable and nutritious alternative protein source, are one potential solution to this problem. While insects have been consumed across the globe for centuries, insect farming and mass rearing facilities are relatively new to North America. Ontario is positioned to be a global leader in cricket protein production and mass-reared insect facilities like cricket farms present a rare opportunity to link fundamental research directly with industrial application. Join me to discuss the edible insect industry and an overview of the exciting research we are performing at Carleton to push this industry forward.

About the Presenter | Matthew Muzzatti
Matt is a Ph.D. student in biology at Carleton University working with Dr.’s Sue Bertram and Heath MacMillan. Matt developed an interest in agricultural entomology during his MSc at the University of Guelph. He worked with Dr. Rebecca Hallett on integrated pest management of an insect pest of canola, swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii). Rather than continuing to combat insect populations, Matt pivoted his research for his PhD to enhance insect populations. He is currently working on a research partnership with Entomo Farms and their commercially reared banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) to explore how to optimize mass cricket rearing by applying lessons from nutritional ecology.