Insects to Feed the World

This year marks the 10th anniversary since the inaugural "Insects to Feed the World" conference held in Wageningen, the Netherlands, and each meeting brings together additional participants from around the world.Since the first meeting, IFW conferences have been held in Wuhan, China in 2016, as well as Quebec, Canada, which was held in a virtual event in 2020, and an in-person event in 2022, attended as well by online participants.The 5th edition of Insects to Feed the World from June 18th to June 22nd 2024 proudly takes place in Singapore, and is hosted by the Asian Feed and Food Insect Association (AFFIA).IFW 2024 strives to create an inclusive environment to join diverse participants from academia, industry, government, and cultural backgrounds spanning the globe.To advance an agenda for the inclusion of edible insects and insect agriculture in tomorrow's sustainable food systems, an integrated approach is required to connect the multi-faceted elements necessary for shared knowledge, innovation, and effective development strategies.With a hyper-diverse and highly multicultural population, and a known centre for food worldwide, Singapore is an excellent venue for this dialogue.Singapore is keenly aware of the need for food security, and alongside food, insects can also play a key role in supporting other food systems such as aquaculture, and leading research in the use of insects in tropical aquaculture has been highlighted in a dedicated keynote panel on this topic, showcasing researchers from across East and Southeast Asia.Additionally, a technical tour of several of Singapore's aquaculture facilities working on insects as aquafeed ingredients, as well as visits to research labs, teaching facilities, start-ups, and community outreach initiatives highlighted several of the actors necessary for a holistic integration of these sustainable elements of insect agriculture.The conference also held keynote panels from investors and leading insect researchers to provide key insights from these sectors, and keynote speakers drawn from broad backgrounds and identities from across the globe led discussions on broad topics ranging from insect breeding, production, and animal well-being.Key presentations from governmental and religious organizations also contributed important considerations to highlight the need for regulatory and cultural acceptance of these novel foods.Importantly, the third Global Roundtable for Insect Agriculture (GRIA) took place, which facilitated dialogue with international industrial associations, and the founding of the Academic Society for Insects as Food and Feed (ASIFF) was announced, cementing a society dedicated to advancing international research efforts for the implementation of insects as food and feed.Thus, the 5th edition of Insects to Feed the World has striven to establish an inclusive environment peopled by diverse voices and identities to ensure a collective dialogue that enables the continued development and innovation in the use of insects as food, feed, and other sustainable approaches that prepare the world for a sustainable future.We look forward to the next instalment of IFW and hope you will join us there to see what that future holds!