Webinar: Insect Frass: An Emerging Fertilizer and Soil Amendment in Ontario & Worldwide

Insect frass is nutrient-rich, dry insect excrement that is emerging as an alternative fertilizer and soil amendment in Canada and internationally. It is the primary coproduct from the growing insect agriculture industry with supporting research demonstrating its utility to improve crop performance, yields, and soil health. In this session, attendees will learn about four key aspects of insect frass:
1. The significance of insect agriculture for food security and the circular economy;
2. Why frass is an interesting fertilizer and soil amendment;
3. Research studies demonstrating how frass can help boost crop performance; and
4. How to access frass for the 2023 season.

Kelsey Jenson: Kels is an Environmental Scientist leading Aspire’s Frass R&D initiatives with an approach that is rooted in authentic collaborations, strategic planning, and scientific rigour. In leading these interdisciplinary efforts in the frass space, she plays a small – but “contagiously passionate!” – part in the global movement towards regenerating the strength and resilience of our planet & soils, growing more nutritious food to feed the world, and transitioning to a true circular economy.

She has fifteen years of experience working in corporate sustainability, environmental stewardship, and organic horticulture, with the last five years focused on the research and commercialization of cricket frass. Kels studied at Queen’s University, earning a BScH in Environmental Science; obtained a certificate in project management from York Schulich School of Business; and has training and certificates in LEAN business, SME management, marketing, and communications. She’s also completed Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Living Soil Foodweb Courses, the Canadian Compost Council’s Compost Facility Operator Training Course, and a Sustainable Medicinal Cannabis Production Managers Mastercourse.