Dr. Pooja Badotra is an accomplished researcher and educator in the field of Animal Sciences, with a MSc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Punjab University, Chandigarh, India. She furthered her research and academic journey with a postdoctoral fellowship at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali. With around 14 years of extensive experience in both research and teaching, Dr. Badotra has made significant contributions to her field through her work at various esteemed institutes. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences at Chitkara University, Punjab, India. In this role, she continues to advance her research while also educating and mentoring the next generation of scientists. Dr. Badotra has 20 research paper and 5 book chapters in various reputed national and international journals and Scopus indexed books respectively. She has presented more than 40 research paper in various national and international conferences. She has won various prestigious awards like best oral presentation, best poster presentation in national and international conferences. She was awarded by Young Women Scientist Award at Nutrient Meet, 2025 organized by Agre Meet foundation. And also she was awarded by Excellence Award in Entomology Agrio Meet 2026 held at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration.

Currently, she is guiding 4 Ph.D. scholars from the field of allied health sciences. Dr. Badotra is known for her active involvement in the academic and research communities, consistently contributing to the development of innovative solutions and knowledge in animal sciences.

Insects as Food and Feed: Advancing Agricultural Economics, Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems:                                                                                                                             

The increasing demand for food and animal protein, together with the scarcity of resources and greater worries regarding waste, has led to more interest in alternative sources of protein. Insects such as crickets, mealworms and the larvae of the black soldier fly could be used for human nutrition and for animal feed, depending on the species involved, the product, safety considerations and regulatory requirements. Certain insects are capable of turning suitable organic by-products into biomass that is rich in protein, thus offering opportunities for resource recovery and the promotion of circular bioeconomy practices. From an agricultural economics point of view, insect farming could lead to the development of new value chains, new jobs and new sources of income, but its feasibility will depend on production costs, processing methods, market demand and consumer acceptance. The environmental advantages are not automatic and must be confirmed by a life-cycle assessment which takes into account the feedstock, energy use, processing and transport. This present study looks at the connections between insect-based food and feed, economic feasibility, circularity and sustainable food systems. It stresses the importance of safe production, regulation based on evidence, viable business models and cooperation between researchers, farmers, the industry and policymakers.