Fitches, Elaine
Dr Elaine Fitches is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biosciences, Durham University, UK. She is an applied entomologist with interests focused in the field of insect biotechnology, and has led research in projects investigating the potential use of insects for livestock nutrition.
As scientific co-ordinator of "PROteINSECT", a EU funded programme that investigated the potential of insects as a source of protein for animal feed, this multinational and multidisciplinary programme provided scientific evidence that made a significant contribution towards the revision of legislation to allow insect protein to be used as a feed in aquaculture in 2017. She recently co-led the creation of an Insect Biomass Conversion Task & Finish Group Consensus document providing the evidence base to support the generation of an insect farming sector in the UK, which was submitted to the Agricultural Productivity Working Group in April 2019. Elaine has considerable experience in biochemistry, molecular biology and invertebrate physiology and has co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and 2 book chapters.
Smith, Rhonda
Rhonda Smith, a graduate of the University of Kent with a joint honours degree in History & Politics, later achieved an MA in Managing Change from the Open University. Working first in magazines and later book publishing as a Commissioning Editor, Rhonda moved to newspapers setting up books divisions with journalists both in the UK and USA. Head hunted to develop a European healthcare public relations agency, she grew the company ready for takeover by a global competitor. That exit enabled Rhonda to set up her own company Minerva which specialises in providing communication, dissemination & training services for European and national funded research projects in the fields of agritech, bioeconomy, circular economy and sustainability as well as providing strategic support for UK based companies and organisations. Rhonda led Minerva's role in the EU funded PROteINSECT project to develop the PRO-Insect Platform, engage with KOLs from industry, NGOs, animal feed & veterinary fields and EU policy to develop a Consensus Business Case document on which the White Paper - Insect Protein: Feed for the Future - was developed and published. It was launched at a Reception in the European Parliament followed by the PROteINSECT International Conference.
Hall, Heidi
Heidi Hall, Global Technical Services Manager for Anpario plc, a UK specialised animal feed additive company. Graduated from the University of Leeds with BSc Hons Zoology degree in 2011 and joined the technical team at AB Agri ltd as a Commercial Nutrition Graduate. She later progressed from General Nutritionist with ABN (a division of AB Agri) to the Technical Project Manager for the Alternative Proteins division. Her latter role focussed on developing novel proteins for the livestock industry and Heidi worked on a number of insect research projects including leading the UK Innovate project between AB Agri and FERA Science, where she met Elaine, the EU PROteINSECT project (on the advisory board) and the Danish led inVALUABLE project. The editors have jointly published two peer-reviewed papers on Insect production, nutritional parameters and the value of insect protein in poultry diets.
Heidi has individually authored papers on gut health in swine and recently been awarded a Nuffield Scholarship looking at strategies to maximise gut health and therefore reduce the need for antimicrobials.
Heidi Hall (Edited By) Heidi Hall, Global Technical Services Manager for Anpario plc, a UK specialised animal feed additive company. Graduated from the University of Leeds with BSc Hons Zoology degree in 2011 and joined the technical team at AB Agri ltd as a Commercial Nutrition Graduate. She later progressed from General Nutritionist with ABN (a division of AB Agri) to the Technical Project Manager for the Alternative Proteins division. Her latter role focussed on developing novel proteins for the livestock industry and Heidi worked on a number of insect research projects including leading the UK Innovate project between AB Agri and FERA Science, where she met Elaine, the EU PROteINSECT project (on the advisory board) and the Danish led inVALUABLE project. The editors have jointly published two peer-reviewed papers on Insect production, nutritional parameters and the value of insect protein in poultry diets.
Heidi has individually authored papers on gut health in swine and recently been awarded a Nuffield Scholarship looking at strategies to maximise gut health and therefore reduce the need for antimicrobials.Elaine Fitches (Edited By) Dr Elaine Fitches is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biosciences, Durham University, UK. She is an applied entomologist with interests focused in the field of insect biotechnology, and has led research in projects investigating the potential use of insects for livestock nutrition.
As scientific co-ordinator of "PROteINSECT", a EU funded programme that investigated the potential of insects as a source of protein for animal feed, this multinational and multidisciplinary programme provided scientific evidence that made a significant contribution towards the revision of legislation to allow insect protein to be used as a feed in aquaculture in 2017. She recently co-led the creation of an Insect Biomass Conversion Task & Finish Group Consensus document providing the evidence base to support the generation of an insect farming sector in the UK, which was submitted to the Agricultural Productivity Working Group in April 2019. Elaine has considerable experience in biochemistry, molecular biology and invertebrate physiology and has co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and 2 book chapters.Rhonda Smith (Edited By) Rhonda Smith, a graduate of the University of Kent with a joint honours degree in History & Politics, later achieved an MA in Managing Change from the Open University. Working first in magazines and later book publishing as a Commissioning Editor, Rhonda moved to newspapers setting up books divisions with journalists both in the UK and USA. Head hunted to develop a European healthcare public relations agency, she grew the company ready for takeover by a global competitor. That exit enabled Rhonda to set up her own company Minerva which specialises in providing communication, dissemination & training services for European and national funded research projects in the fields of agritech, bioeconomy, circular economy and sustainability as well as providing strategic support for UK based companies and organisations. Rhonda led Minerva's role in the EU funded PROteINSECT project to develop the PRO-Insect Platform, engage with KOLs from industry, NGOs, animal feed & veterinary fields and EU policy to develop a Consensus Business Case document on which the White Paper - Insect Protein: Feed for the Future - was developed and published. It was launched at a Reception in the European Parliament followed by the PROteINSECT International Conference.
