Speakers
Prof. Marcin Kadej, PhD, DSc, Eng.
is the Head of the Department of Biology, Evolution and Invertebrate Protection, as well as the Head of the Laboratory of Forensic Biology and Entomology at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław. A scientist and academic teacher, biologist, and engineer in marketing and management, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences and Chairman of the Scientific Council for Biological Sciences from 2020 to 2024. He specializes in conservation biology, biodiversity protection, forensic entomology, and archaeoentomology, as well as natural resource assessment. He is the Chairman of the Regional Council for Nature Conservation in Wrocław (2025–2030 term) and a member of the scientific advisory boards for the Stołowe Mountains National Park and the Forest Promotional Complexes of "Lasy Doliny Baryczy," "Sudety Zachodnie," and "Lasy Środkowopomorskie". An expert for the IUCN Polish National Committee, he is also a member of the European Association for Forensic Entomology, the Polish Entomological Society, and the Upper Silesian Entomological Society. His research focuses on the taxonomy, systematics, biology, and ecology of insects, with a particular emphasis on beetles from the family Dermestidae. He is the author of over 400 publications, including more than 100 in JCR-indexed journals, and has initiated species protection projects, such as the restoration of the ferruginous duck in the "Stawy Milickie" reserve. He completed a scientific internship at The Royal Holloway University of London and conducted research visits across many European countries. Between 2017 and 2025, he prepared over 230 expert opinions, inventories, and environmental supervisions, and his professional activities also include education in biodiversity management and nature conservation.
Professor CHRISTOS G. ATHANASSIOU
He works in Greece at the University of Thessaly in the Department of Agriculture, Plant and Rural Production
Develops Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, ul. Phytokou, 38443, N. Ionia, Volos, Greece
Degrees, scientific path
1993: BSC in Agronomy, Integrated Master, University of Agriculture in Athens, Greece
1999: PhD in Entomology, University of Agriculture in Athens, Greece Work Experience
2000-2002: Assistant Professor, Technological Educational Institute, Larissa, Greece
2002-2005: Greek Ministry of Rural and Food Development, Volos, Greece
2005-2009: Lecturer (agricultural entomology), University of Agriculture in Athens
2007-2009: Visiting scientist/Research Associate: Kansas State University, USDA-ARS,
The Grain Marketing and Production Center (OECD Fellow, Research Associate/Post-doc)
2009-2013: Adjunct (Entomology), The University Of Thessalic
2013-2017: Associate Professor (entomology), The University of Thessalic
2015-2016: Visiting scientist: USDA-ARS, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research
(Fulbright Prize)
2017-today: Professor of Ordinary (Entomology), The University of the Thessalic
2015- today: Co-worker/Consultant, Hellas Research and Technology Centre (iBO-
CERTH), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO Investment Center), European Bank
for research and development (EBDR)
Dr Tanga Chrysantus M.
Dr. Chrysantus Mbi Tanga is a Senior Scientist and the Head of Insects for Food, Feed and Other Uses (INSEFF) Programme at icipe.
Dr. Tanga received his BSc in Zoology and MSc in Medical Entomology from the University of Buea, Cameroon. Through the ARPPIS-DAAD PhD scholarship, he obtained his PhD in Agricultural Entomology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 2012. He returned to icipe, Nairobi, Kenya, as a consultant in 2013, and later as a Postdoctoral Fellow under the African Fruit Fly Programme (AFFP) in 2014. As a Postdoctoral fellow, Tanga managed and provided a lot of support to the INSEFF programme and in 2019, he was recruited as a Research Scientist in the same programme.
His dedication and innovation in Insects for Food and Feed has been largely successful at multiple levels, transforming and facilitating growth in the utilisation of insects for food and feed, development of standards for commercial insect products, resource mobilisation, up-scaling, dissemination of innovative technologies to smallholder farmers, improving food and nutrition security, empowering women and youths, and networking people to improve their well-being.
The efforts of Tanga and his team leading the continent-wide initiative on Insects for Food and Feed won global recognition and was privileged to be awarded the prestigious Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize in 2020.
Tanga has published more than 95 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, several book chapters and training manuals, and given over 56 presentations at scientific gatherings. He has mentored several PhD, MSc, BSc, and internship students from 16 countries. He is an enthusiastic member of the Entomological Society of America, and African Association of Insect Scientists, among others.
Remigiusz Gałęcki, DVM, PhD
Assistant professor
Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.
His main research interests are veterinary entomology, with a particular emphasis on edible insects, pests, and ectoparasites. His current research focuses on the potential use of edible insects in the agri-food sector, with particular emphasis on the Yellow mealworm, and assessing the impact of this insect on animal health. Dr. Gałęcki's research goal is to implement edible insects into veterinary medicine in its broadest sense. He completed research internships at One Health Center, Berry College, USA (2018) and the National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan (2019, 2023). He has participated in numerous research and development projects, including the "Gospostrateg" project, which aimed to develop a strategy for the use of alternative sources of insect protein in animal nutrition, and the "UpWaste" project. He led the project entitled "Development of insect protein-based food for companion animals with diet-dependent enteropathies", financed under the "LIDER XII" program by the National Center for Research and Development. Currently, he is the head of the research task "Hypoallergenic food for dogs based on mealworms of the "Cardiac" and "Gastrointestinal Low Fat" types as follow-up innovations" within the "Science4Business" project and an investigator in the OPUS project "Bioavailability of doxycycline and its effect on the development of the Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). He is also the author of numerous innovations and patent applications.
Thomas Lefebvre (PhD)
is a researcher and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the insect industry for feed and food. He has played a key role in the sector's growth through his commitment as R&D Director at Ÿnsect, former leader in mealworm production, and now as the founder of ELYTR, a service firm dedicated to supporting insect producers. He has led multidisciplinary work ranging from innovation and research to industrial scale-up. Numerous achievements include pioneering breakthroughs in insect genomics, breeding, advanced nutrition, health, biosafety, and welfare. He actively contributes to the development of the insect value chain by representing the industry within institutions and through international lectures. His career reflects a passionate dedication to insect biology and its valorisation to address global challenges sustainably. An insightful journey, marked by both successes and setbacks, that gives him a critical and informed perspective on the current state of the sector, its evolution since its early days, and its future developments.
Nils Th. Grabowski DVM, PhD
Dr. med. vet. Head of Department at the Institute of Food Quality and Food Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
He studied veterinary medicine and animal production at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Cuautitlán, Mexico in 1988-1993. He worked as a practitioner in several large and small animal clinics in Germany. He earned a doctorate in milk hygiene at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) in 2000. During his employment at the University, he became head of the department, specializing in milk hygiene and academic teaching. He has been working with productive insects since 2006. In 2019, he became head of the newly established Department of Hygiene and Technology of Productive Insects at the Institute of Food Quality and Food Safety (LMQS), TiHo. He was an audit expert on edible insects for EFSA and German public health authorities.
Partners
National Veterinary Research Institute (PIWet-PIB)
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Warmia and Mazury Chamber of Veterinary Medicine |
Warmińsko-Mazurski Agricultural Advisory Center based in Olsztyn
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Polish Association of Insect Breeders and Producers |
Media Partners
