C. Canteen

30/06/2025

最近，一個新的「食用及飼用昆蟲學術協會」正式成立，並設立了自己的網站和電子報。

A new Academic Society for Insects as Food and Feed was recently inaugurated with their own website and newsletter. :-)

ASIFF will serve as a platform for bringing together academia, enhancing communication, promoting scientific knowledge, guiding legislative and guideline developments, and strengthening support to the insect agricultural sector across nations.

25/06/2025

(中文/English)

剛從在馬來西亞吉隆坡馬來亞大學舉辦的年度 AFFIA（亞洲食用與飼料昆蟲協會）論壇回來。

雖然 C. Canteen 更關注昆蟲作為食物的文化面向，但看到一個以黑水虻（BSF）為核心、正快速崛起的新興產業，依然讓人感到十分新奇。

其中的挑戰在於，如何將科技與工程整合進有機生命系統——從黑水虻的發育階段到其所延伸出的微生物生態圈，這些元素共同構成了一個共生的巨型生物體。

在一些較非工業化的案例中，黑水虻被應用於社區計畫中，協助建立營養循環。透過其生物轉化能力，將有機廢棄物轉化為可支撐養雞的蛋白質，以及有助於種植食物的有機肥料。

關鍵詞是「循環生物經濟」。黑水虻的種種卓越特性，使它被視為「神奇動物」或「昆蟲產業的皇冠之寶」，但在自然界中仍有數以百萬計的其他昆蟲物種，有待我們發掘其潛在的生物學價值。

這次我們帶回了許多新的洞見、大量的靈感，以及一本來自緬甸一個很酷的專案所製作的富有想像力的昆蟲食譜書。感謝 David Allen！

還有照片與紀錄方面，要特別感謝 Umberto Diecinove 以及他主持的計畫 I N S C T S：
https://www.studiodiecinove.com/i-n-s-c-t-s/
https://www.instagram.com/instadiecinove/

Just returned from the annual AFFIA (Asian Food & Feed Insect Association) Forum, held in University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

While C. Canteen is more about the cultural side of insects as food, it's still fascinating to see the emergence of a new industry focused largely on the black soldier fly (BSF).

The challenge is to integrate technology and engineering with living systems - through the developmental stages of the BSF to the extended microbiome that together constitute a symbiotic macro-organism.

In other, less-industrial, cases, BSF are used in community projects to close nutrient loops, by facilitating the bioconversion of organic waste into protein that can sustain chicken farming, and organic fertiliser that supports gowing food.

The keyword is "circular bioeconomy" and while the outstanding properties of BSF variously make it a "magical animal" or the "crown jewel of the insect industry", millions of other insect species still exist that might reveal valuable biological properties.

We brought back many new insights, a lot of inspiration, and an evocative insect recipe book from a cool project in Myanmar. Thanks David Allen!

And for the photos and documentation, thanks to Umberto Diecinove and his project I N S C T S, at https://www.studiodiecinove.com/i-n-s-c-t-s/
https://www.instagram.com/instadiecinove/

25/03/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHk_8ZgT40f/?igsh=MThxMGhoeGJwejhrbA==

偽昆蟲食品甜點🤣🤣

Send a message to learn more

05/03/2025

A few more days to register for the AFFIA edible insects conference in Malaysia, June 18-20.

📢 Open Call for Abstracts – Speak at AII&RF 2025!

The Asian Insect Industry & Research Forum 2025 is now accepting worldwide abstract submissions and speakers! This is your chance to present your research, share insights, and connect with top experts in the field.

AII&RF 20205:
📅 18-19-20 June 2025
📍 Faculty of Science - Universiti Malaya
🔗 Register Now: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/asian-insect-industry-research-forum-2025-tickets-1238502507339?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

This premier annual conference brings together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to explore the latest breakthroughs in insect food and feed production, with a strong focus on Asia.

Conference Themes:
🔬 Health & Safety
🦗 New Developments & Research in Insect Products
⚙️ Production & Processing – Best Practices
🌱 Sustainability & Investor Relations
📜 Regulatory & Market Access in the Region

💡 Limited speaking slots available! Submit your presentation title and a 100–150 word abstract before 7 March 2025 to [email protected]. Submissions will be reviewed within two weeks.

🎟 Speakers receive free full-event access!

Contact us for any questions:
📧 [email protected]

29/12/2024

用中文和英文向我們的朋友和追蹤者傳達一點訊息 :-)
A little message to our friends and followers here in Chinese and English :-)

蟋餐廳的2024與2025年
https://open.substack.com/pub/paradigmlost/p/20242025?r=bfzaz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

C. Canteen in 2024 and 2025
https://open.substack.com/pub/paradigmlost/p/c-canteen-in-2024-and-2025?r=bfzaz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

24/10/2024

On October 23, we celebrate WORLD EDIBLE INSECT DAY 🦗🌍 to highlight the incredible benefits of insect consumption. Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats, insects offer a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional foods.

They require fewer resources to farm and can be raised using organic waste, supporting a circular economy and zero-waste systems.

Though cultural acceptance varies, insects are gaining traction worldwide as a viable food source. This World Edible Insect Day, explore how insects can help reshape food security and sustainability for a greener future!

https://affia.org/

14/10/2024

Greetings from the World Food Forum 2024 in Rome :-)

Send a message to learn more

01/10/2024

My new employer, the Research Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences has published its current newsletter "Polyphonic Island Languages" in which all of the program's fellows introduce themselves. The last two introductions are included in Chinese and English :-)

In this newsletter, everyone was asked to introduce themselves through a type of food that they can find in the vicinity.

我的新雇主人文社會科學研究中心出版了最新的通訊 ，該計畫的所有研究員都在其中介紹了自己。最後兩篇介紹有中文和英文:-)

在這份時事通訊中，每個人都被要求透過他們在附近可以找到的一種食物來介紹自己。

「國家科學及技術委員會人文社會科學研究中心」以促進國內人文及社會科學學術發展為宗旨，致力於完善學術環境，提升學術能量，發揮人文及社會科學之價值。

19/09/2024

THE ASIAN FOOD & FEED INSECT ASSOCIATION is coming to Taiwan at next year's Taiwan Smart Agriweek, from September 3-5, 2025, in Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1.

https://www.taiwanagriweek.com/exhibitor-detail/CU01013518/

10/07/2024

Good news from Singapore!

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26/06/2024

(English text below)
只需在“2024 運⽤植物基質之昆蟲養 殖產業及其多元應⽤國際論壇”上度過兩天激動人心的關於昆蟲作為食物和飼料的演講和討論。

好消息是昆蟲的利用有很多可能性。壞消息是缺乏監管是一個主要障礙，尤其是在台灣。

然而，隨著農業部農業試驗所(TARI）等更大的參與者積極參與台灣的運動，必要的監管路線圖正在慢慢開始形成。

論壇裡的一點小知識：
超過 59% 的亞洲家庭養寵物。在馬來西亞和印度尼西亞，貓更受歡迎。在越南和菲律賓，狗更受歡迎（你現在知道為什麼嗎？）。在台灣，近年來登記的寵物數量已超過登記的出生數量。這就是為什麼目前許多研究在寵物食品中使用昆蟲蛋白質的原因。這是來自雲端科技（國立雲林科技大學）客座教授 Hui-Suan Grrace Ng 博士關於昆蟲作為寵物永續飼料的演講。

封面照片：TARI 標本館藏的昆蟲

Just spend two exciting days of presentations and discussion on insects as food and feed at the "2024 International Forum on Plant Feed-based Insect Farming Industry and Its Diversified Applications".

The good news is that there are so many possibilities for use of insects. The bad news is that lacking regulation is a major barrier, especially in Taiwan.

However, gradually, with bigger players, such as the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), becoming active in the movement in Taiwan, a roadmap towards necessary regulation is slowly starting to take shape.

A little tidbit from the forum:
More than 59% of Asian household have pets. In Malaysia and Indonesia cats are more popular. In Vietnam and the Philippines, dogs are more popular (Do you now why?). In Taiwan, in recent years, the number of registered pets has overtaken that of registered births. That was from a presentation on Insects as sustainable feed for pets, by Dr. Hui-Suan Grrace Ng, who is a visiting Professor at Yun Tech (National Yunlin University of Science and Technology).

Cover photo: Talking with an attendee from Thailand. Thanks to Prof Yang;
Second photo: insects fron the TARI specimen collection

17/06/2024

Gradually the topic is receiving more attention!

農業部推廣荔枝椿象食譜踩紅線，食藥署雖說至今未收到新的食用昆蟲申請案，可由相關部會協助，但民間不解國外食蟲行之有年，台灣卻設超高門檻，雙方無交集。