Elisa Gemassmer, MSc BSc

Room 514
Elisa.Gemassmer@uibk.ac.at

Growing up with an agricultural background and hands-on experience in fruit production and processing, I’ve always been interested in connecting fundamental research with sustainable, practical applications. My research focuses on circular waste management through insect farming, an innovative approach to address two pressing global challenges: effective waste recycling and more sustainable farming practices. By transforming organic waste into high quality protein for food and feed, insect farming holds potential for both ecological and economic sustainability.

As part of my PhD in the FWF project “From Waste to Feed”, I’m working with the South American black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens. Known for its high feed conversion rate, the ability to consume a variety of organic substrates, and larvae that are rich in protein, the BSF is a promising canidate for large-scale waste-to-feed systems. However, the main challenge in large-scale BSF farming lies in optimizing the production of fertilized eggs.

At the intersection of microbiology and ecology, my research investigates the insect-microbe interactions that influence BSF oviposition behavior. Through a combination of oviposition bioassays and semiochemical analysis, microbiological studies, and genetic profiling, I aim to unravel the complex dynamics shaping these interactions.

Research topics
Insect farming
Microbial cultivation
Microbiome research
Waste management