“Can you imagine the world without insects”?

It was a day in filled with scientific exchange and strategic dialogue. The visit brought together researchers and leadership to highlight ongoing collaborations and explore future opportunities in insect-based research for sustainable food systems, ecosystem health, and One Health.

The programme began with an informal gathering, followed by a welcome address from Ylva Hillbur, Pro Vice-Chancellor at SLU and Chair of the icipe Executive Board. Sara Gräslund, head of SLU Global, then introduced SLU emphasising the university’s commitment to international partnerships addressing global challenges.

A presentation by Dr. Thomas Dubois, director of Impact Delivery, icipe, provided an overview of icipe’s mission and research priorities, setting the stage for a series of scientific talks focusing on the critical role of insects in sustainable development.

Research presentations highlighted the breadth of collaboration between SLU and icipe. Åsa Berggren (Department of Ecology), discussed the roles of insects in food systems, while Mattias Jonsson (Department of Ecology) presented insights into ecosystem functions and joint projects with icipe. 

Further presentations explored applied research areas, including black soldier fly production by Cecilia Lalander (Department of Energy and Technology), and One Health approaches to vector-borne diseases presented by Mikael Berg, Maja Malmberg, Jonas Johansson Wensman and Anne-Lie Blomström (Department of Animal Biosciences). Kartik Baruah (Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare) shared findings from the FASA project, focusing on sustainable aquatic feeds for resilient food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The morning concluded with a joint discussion, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, the delegation visited laboratories at the Centre for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VHC) and the Soil, Water and Environment Centre (MVM), where they gained first-hand insight into ongoing research on virology, aquaculture, and black soldier fly systems.

The visit reinforced the strong partnership between SLU and icipe and underscored the importance of international collaboration in addressing global challenges related to food security, biodiversity, and health.

Sustainable life with insects-based innovations

On 29 April, Dr. Tenkouano and Dr. Dubois gave a seminar in Alnarp Impacting science and education for sustainable life with icipe’s insect-based innovations.

He went on to thank Sweden for its friendship.

The delegation from icipe expressed their appreciation for the visit and noted how valuable the exchanges had been.They look forward to strengthening the collaboration and exploring new opportunities for future cooperation.

Facts

Why insects?

Insects are the most abundant and diverse life forms on Earth—and a paradox for sustainable development, especially in Africa. They can devastate crops, spread disease, and reduce agricultural productivity, yet their biodiversity also offers major opportunities for innovation and livelihoods.

Pest outbreaks, worsened by challenges like land degradation and climate change, threaten food security and export markets, while disease-carrying insects increase the burden on human and animal health. At the same time, beneficial insects support livelihoods such as beekeeping.

Addressing these challenges requires stronger research capacity to manage harmful impacts and unlock the potential of insects for sustainable development.

About icipe

Founded in 1970 and based in Nairobi, icipe uses insect science to support sustainable development in Africa—improving food security, health, and environmental outcomes. It develops safe, affordable solutions to manage pests and disease vectors while promoting the conservation and use of biodiversity. Capacity building, especially for researchers, women, and youth, is central to its mission.

icipe applies a holistic “4H” (human, animal, plant, environmental health) approach, combining multiple scientific disciplines with strong global partnerships. Together, these efforts strengthen research capacity and deliver practical solutions for smallholder farmers across Africa.