Workshop: Alternative proteins in poultry feed – registration open!

Date: Monday 18^th May, 2026
Location: Elsworth, Cambridge
Cost: FREE, lunch provided and travel reimbursed
Registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/EKRcdW1k8H

Join us at a workshop exploring the future of alternative proteins in UK poultry feed on 18^th May.

The event brings together insect producers, poultry farmers, academics, policymakers and sustainability practitioners for a rare one‑day, cross‑sector discussion on the barriers and opportunities for insect protein as a nutritious, more sustainable alternative to soy in livestock feed.

Led by Dr Fern Baker, Research Fellow of the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), in collaboration with Dr Rounaq Nayak (Senior Lecturer in Farming Systems) at UWE Bristol, the event marks an important step towards understanding how the UK can reduce its reliance on soy and accelerate progress towards Net Zero by 2050.

Exploring the barriers: what to expect at the workshop

Attendees at the workshop will be given the opportunity to discuss:

• operational and regulatory barriers currently preventing insect protein from becoming mainstream
• differences between species such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), mealworms and crickets, each of which has unique production methods, challenges and applications
• gaps, misconceptions and real‑world practicalities that producers and farmers face

They will also begin co-developing a universal regulatory approach to support scalability and investment in the sector.

Ahead of the event, Dr Baker will conduct interviews with key stakeholders to ensure the workshop agenda is grounded in their experiences.

Who should attend?

This workshop will be particularly valuable for:

• UK farmers with experience of or interest in alternative proteins
• Poultry farmers exploring sustainable feed options
• Insect producers at any scale
• Policy officers (local or national)
• Researchers and practitioners in agroecology, regenerative agriculture, insect farming or agri‑tech
• Anyone interested in sustainable innovations in food and feed systems

If your work touches the future of livestock feed, sustainability transitions, or farm‑level innovation, your voice is needed. The workshop is designed to be practical, collaborative, and highly participatory, offering you the chance not only to learn but to shape the direction of future research and policy.

Why your participation matters

Attending this workshop allows you to:

• Influence future regulation: Your practical knowledge and insights will help shape proposals for a more coherent, flexible regulatory system for insect protein in the UK.
• Connect with innovators: Meet insect farmers, feed specialists, researchers and policymakers working directly in this emerging field.
• Be part of the next stage: Volunteers from the session will form a new working group, co‑designing a larger funding bid to the British Academy and shaping long‑term industry guidance.
• Help build a more sustainable food system: Your participation contributes to real research outputs, including academic publications, policy briefings for Defra, and blueprints for future regulatory frameworks.

What happens next?

The outcomes from this workshop will contribute to an academic article planned for submission to the Journal of Agriculture and Human Values. The broader aim is to create a more equitable, scalable and climate‑resilient future for insect protein adoption in the UK.

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Interested? We look forward to seeing you on the 18^th of May!