Promoting food sovereignty and social reincorporation through insect farming

This initiative began in 2019 in Icononzo, Tolima, with former FARC combatants, establishing Colombia’s first Black Soldier Fly facility run by peace signers. It has since expanded to Guaviare and the Sierra Nevada, working with Indigenous and rural communities. Through training and capacity building, Insects for Peace promotes resilience, food sovereignty, and sustainable livelihoods using insects as a tool for peacebuilding and ecological transformation. www.insectsforpeace.org

Circular bioeconomy and insect-based waste conversion

This foundational international project (2022–2025) evaluated 23 organic residues and 11 insect species, identifying Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor as the most promising. It developed experimental diets, conducted safety and bioconversion analyses, piloted HACCP protocols, and tested insect meal in aquaculture. In collaboration with partners in Germany and Norway, BioInsectonomy created scalable tools and regulatory guidelines for a sustainable insect-based bioeconomy in Colombia. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-84359-4_14

Nutrition, safety, and public policy for insect-based feed

In 2025, NutrInsecta evaluated Tenebrio molitor meal in terms of digestibility, nutritional value, and microbiological safety. It also explored 50 edible insect species for their food security potential in Colombia and led intersectoral policy dialogues to promote insect-based solutions within the bioeconomy framework. https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/11/13/insectos-en-la-dieta-nutricional-de-los-colombianos-serian-para-el-consumo-humano-y-animal/

The Socio-Ecological Roles of insects: An interdisciplinary perspective on their potential and management

Insectonomy is an interdisciplinary initiative that explores the socio-ecological roles of insects in agrifood systems, considering both their potential and the challenges they pose. Insects can contribute to food and feed production, pollination, soil regeneration, cultural practices, and ecological balance, but they can also act as pests, vectors, or disruptors. Insectonomy proposes a holistic framework to evaluate insect species across four dimensions: productive potential, ecosystem functions, socio-cultural relevance, and management challenges. This approach moves beyond simplistic classifications and emphasizes context, use, and human-insect interactions. By integrating diverse strategies such as conservation, pest and vector control, wild insect gathering, and insect farming, Insectonomy aims to support more inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable management decisions. The initiative brings together researchers, farmers, policymakers, educators, and communities to co-create knowledge and tools that respond to local needs while contributing to global sustainability goals. Rooted in collaborations between Latin America and Europe, Insectonomy is an evolving platform that invites participation from around the world. It promotes dialogue across disciplines and territories, encouraging creative and evidence-based ways of rethinking our relationships with insects in the context of food systems, biodiversity, and resilience. Join us as we imagine new ways forward, together.

www.insectonomy.org

Scaling smallholder insect production for feed systems

Supported by the Dutch government and NGN Pro-Active B.V., this 2024–2027 project promotes sustainable insect farming models in Colombia, especially in rural and underserved areas. CINAT leads research on small-scale Black Soldier Fly biomass transformation and the co-development of appropriate, low-cost technologies for local application. EntoPro, CINAT’s spin-off company, collaborates with the Indigenous Kankuamo community in Cesar to establish a new production facility. The initiative strengthens business models, fosters inclusive job creation, and enables effective technology transfer. https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-cluster-colombia/posts/?feedView=all

Insects for Peace as a Global South case study for the SDGs

In 2027, the Justus Liebig University of Giessen (JLU) invited the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL) to collaborate on the International Office for Sustainability, a four-year initiative (2024–2027) funded by the DAAD through its SDG-Partnerships program. Based in Bogotá, this office aims to strengthen academic cooperation and sustainable development practices between Germany and the Global South. Insects for Peace was selected as the core case study to showcase innovative, community-based sustainability strategies rooted in local knowledge and biodiversity, contributing directly to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). https://oficinadesostenibilidad.org/