I N S C T S

The global agricultural system is highly extractive and is expected to fall 40% short of the world’s food supply needs by 2050, when the global population is predicted to approach 10 billion.
I N S C T S is an ongoing project exploring the global rise of insect farming and its contribution to a transformation that embraces the inherent circularity of nature. Through a hybrid body of work – combining documentary photography, microscope images, audio interviews, and video – I have been researching how this practice promotes more equitable and regenerative agricultural models.
The photographs were taken in research centers, farms, communities and companies in Europe (The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal), Asia (China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam), Colombia, and in the U.S. (California and Texas).
  • This photography made by Umberto Diecinove is part of his project I N S C T S. This picture was made in Italy in 2023. It was taken inside a black soldier fly adults room at an industrial production site. It's blue because The color and frequency of light can play a crucial role in optimizing BSF reproduction. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has captured the attention of researchers and environmentalists due to its exceptional bioconversion capabilities. Insect farming offers locally solutions to address global environmental challenges. It contributes towards addressing many environmental and social issues. Within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: climate action, life on land, zero hunger, no poverty, good jobs and economic growth, good health, gender equality, responsible consumption. The adult Black Soldier Fly has a short lifespan, typically between 5 and 9 days. During this time, its primary focus is reproduction. Adults do not feed, and once mating is complete, they die. These characteristics make the BSF an extremely efficient contributor to waste management and various ecological processes.
    Inside the black soldier fly adults room in a pilot production site (Italy, 2023).
The concept behind it is simple: some insects can upcycle organic waste into biofertilizer and into feed for animals that naturally eat insects. Replacing soymeal, fishmeal, and chemical fertilizers—products tied to deforestation, overfishing, and soil exhaustion—with insect-based alternatives offers a glimpse of what a less extractive food system could look like. 
I N S C T S  has been presented internationally, including the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center (Budapest, Hungary), the Centro de Arte Naves de Gamazo (Spain), the Noorderlicht Biennial (The Netherlands), and the Glass Box Gallery (Santa Barbara, California, USA), among others.
In 2025 I N S C T S has been selected for the Hamburg Portfolio Review and nominated for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
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