The growing reputation of Athens, Georgia, as a gastronomic capital attracts culinary tourists from all over the Southeast. This summer, the city will welcome a new type of culinary enthusiasm.
They won’t be after barbecue or biscuits. They’ll be here for the bugs.
Eating Insects Athens, held by the North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture, will draw hundreds of insect agriculture and insect gastronomy advocates to Athens from Aug. 13-15.
The biennial conference, held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, will feature research presentations, industry information, art exhibitions, networking opportunities and, of course, several chances to eat insects. This conference is a follow-up to Eating Insects Detroit, which was held in 2016.
Marianne Shockley, an entomologist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and founding member of NACIA, is helping to host the event.
For years, she and her team of UGA entomology students, called “Bug Dawgs,” have been introducing Athens to edible insects through outreach events at local grade schools and on UGA’s campus. This conference will enable UGA entomology students to meet others who promote insect agriculture.
Innovators from culinary, cultural and scientific fields will converge at the Eating Insects Athens conference, showcasing the multifaceted aspects of this burgeoning industry.
More information and registration for the conference is at eatinginsectsathens.org.
