Training & Teaching – Shaphan Y Chia Research

TRAINING AND TEACHING SERIES

Training & Capacity Development

Training and capacity development are central to my research practice. Alongside generating scientific evidence, I actively translate research on insects for feed, food systems, and circular bioeconomy into practical knowledge that can be applied by farmers, researchers, students, and development practitioners.

My training activities are designed to bridge science and practice, strengthen technical capacity, and support the responsible adoption of insect-based technologies across diverse production systems.

Academic Teaching

I contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in areas related to entomology, animal nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and food systems, drawing on both scientific theory and applied research experience. My teaching approach emphasises:

Strong conceptual foundations
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Application of research to real-world challenges

Postgraduate Supervision & Mentorship

I actively supervise and mentor Interns, MSc and PhD students working on topics related to:

Insect-based feeds and feed formulation
Livestock nutrition, performance, and physiology
Circular bioeconomy and waste valorisation
Soil–plant–insect interactions

My supervision philosophy prioritises scientific rigor, independence, and publication-oriented research, while supporting students’ professional development and career progression.

Professional Training & Short Courses

In addition to academic training, I design and deliver professional training programmes and short courses for:

Farmers and producer groups
Extension agents
Researchers and early-career scientists
Private-sector and development partners

Training topics commonly include:

Insect rearing and mass-production systems
Processing of insect meals and insect oils
Feed formulation and quality assurance
Circular bioeconomy and waste-to-value approaches
Sustainability, and insect welfare considerations

These trainings are delivered through workshops, field demonstrations, and hands-on sessions, often tailored to local contexts and production realities.

Curriculum & Training Material Development

I contribute to the development of training manuals, course modules, and curricula on insects for food and feed, supporting universities, research institutions, and development programmes seeking to integrate insect-based technologies into education and practice.

This includes the preparation of:

Technical manuals and SOPs
Training guides for farmers and extension agents
University-level course modules

Capacity Building & Knowledge Exchange

My training activities are embedded within broader capacity-building and knowledge-exchange efforts, often linked to multi-country research projects and development initiatives. Through these engagements, I aim to:

Strengthen technical and analytical skills
Support evidence-based decision-making
Foster regional and international research networks

Training Philosophy

Across all training activities, my guiding principle is that effective capacity development must be inclusive, context-specific, and grounded in sound science. By combining research, training, and mentorship, I aim to support the long-term adoption and scaling of insect-based solutions for sustainable food systems.

Past teaching activities:
Teaching assistance in MSc courses (2020 – 2023) – Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands:

ENT-21306 – Insects as Food and Feed (IFF)
ENT- 50806 – Insect-Plant-Interactions (IPI)
ENT-30306: Ecological Aspects of Bio-Interactions (EABI).

My specific roles included but are not limited to:

Supervising student course projects
Developing students’ research skills
Assessing student research knowledge and scientific communication

Black soldier fly (BSF) Training series:

Episode 1: Introduction to black soldier fly

Episode 2: Waste sourcing

Episode 3: Black soldier fly rearing

Episode 4: Feeding and rearing black soldier fly larvae

Episode 5: Harvesting and processing larvae

Episode 6: Making frass fertilizer

Shaphan Y. Chia

Research Group