[Applause] [Music]
entomologists liked to joke that we’re
entomologists liked to joke that we’re the biologists that have jobs and
the biologists that have jobs and
the biologists that have jobs and there’s some truth to that because
there’s some truth to that because
there’s some truth to that because because there’s a lot of pests
because there’s a lot of pests
because there’s a lot of pests humans have been battling against
humans have been battling against
humans have been battling against against bugs for for millennia these
against bugs for for millennia these
against bugs for for millennia these things eat our big destroy our houses
things eat our big destroy our houses
things eat our big destroy our houses they they bite our children in the night
they they bite our children in the night
they they bite our children in the night they eat our food right you know how
they eat our food right you know how
they eat our food right you know how many picnics insects have wrecked it’s a
many picnics insects have wrecked it’s a
many picnics insects have wrecked it’s a lot it’s a lot and insects have killed
lot it’s a lot and insects have killed
lot it’s a lot and insects have killed more more soldiers than bullets or bombs
more more soldiers than bullets or bombs
more more soldiers than bullets or bombs have through disease transmission
have through disease transmission
have through disease transmission insects throughout human history have
insects throughout human history have
insects throughout human history have changed the tides of war where we’ve
changed the tides of war where we’ve
changed the tides of war where we’ve decided to call a nice things like this
decided to call a nice things like this
decided to call a nice things like this but not all insects are pests in fact
but not all insects are pests in fact
but not all insects are pests in fact just the finest sliver of the insect
just the finest sliver of the insect
just the finest sliver of the insect community are hurting people the vast
community are hurting people the vast
community are hurting people the vast majority and this is true so much of
majority and this is true so much of
majority and this is true so much of biodiversity right we always focus on
biodiversity right we always focus on
biodiversity right we always focus on the pests but so much of the life that’s
the pests but so much of the life that’s
the pests but so much of the life that’s out there we couldn’t live without and
out there we couldn’t live without and
out there we couldn’t live without and so that’s what I study I study how
so that’s what I study I study how
so that’s what I study I study how insects help people rather than how they
insects help people rather than how they
insects help people rather than how they hurt people and there’s a lot of ways
hurt people and there’s a lot of ways
hurt people and there’s a lot of ways and topologists estimate that insects
and topologists estimate that insects
and topologists estimate that insects contribute between tens and hundreds of
contribute between tens and hundreds of
contribute between tens and hundreds of billions of dollars annually to to to
billions of dollars annually to to to
billions of dollars annually to to to the US economy alone how do they do that
the US economy alone how do they do that
the US economy alone how do they do that well they do things right if you like to
well they do things right if you like to
well they do things right if you like to hunt or fish or bird watch think a bug
hunt or fish or bird watch think a bug
hunt or fish or bird watch think a bug insects are the are the the basis of
insects are the are the the basis of
insects are the are the the basis of these food webs that that support the
these food webs that that support the
these food webs that that support the wildlife that we that we appreciate
wildlife that we that we appreciate
wildlife that we that we appreciate insects provide services they provide
insects provide services they provide
insects provide services they provide products and values these are some of my
products and values these are some of my
products and values these are some of my girls here honey production is a billion
girls here honey production is a billion
girls here honey production is a billion dollar industry we wouldn’t have fruits
dollar industry we wouldn’t have fruits
dollar industry we wouldn’t have fruits and vegetables without these managed
and vegetables without these managed
and vegetables without these managed pollinators
pollinators
pollinators insects are nature’s insecticides by
insects are nature’s insecticides by
insects are nature’s insecticides by eating pests of crops they shape when
eating pests of crops they shape when
eating pests of crops they shape when and where you have pest problems by
and where you have pest problems by
and where you have pest problems by eating the the the the seeds and the
eating the the the the seeds and the
eating the the the the seeds and the green parts and the roots of weeds
green parts and the roots of weeds
green parts and the roots of weeds insects have a have a profound influence
insects have a have a profound influence
insects have a have a profound influence on when and where weeds become a problem
on when and where weeds become a problem
on when and where weeds become a problem we can use these things right and
we can use these things right and
we can use these things right and insects are a major source of protein
insects are a major source of protein
insects are a major source of protein for just about every culture except for
for just about every culture except for
for just about every culture except for Western cultures and around the world
Western cultures and around the world
Western cultures and around the world insects transfer feed into protein
insects transfer feed into protein
insects transfer feed into protein better than any of the livestock that we
better than any of the livestock that we
better than any of the livestock that we currently raise and and and as such are
currently raise and and and as such are
currently raise and and and as such are really important component of human
really important component of human
really important component of human diets if you’ve ever had crab legs or
diets if you’ve ever had crab legs or
diets if you’ve ever had crab legs or Lobster I hate to say it folks but
Lobster I hate to say it folks but
Lobster I hate to say it folks but that’s a big bug but and that’s kind of
that’s a big bug but and that’s kind of
that’s a big bug but and that’s kind of the cart that a lot of entomologist like
the cart that a lot of entomologist like
the cart that a lot of entomologist like to drag out whenever there’s whenever Oh
to drag out whenever there’s whenever Oh
to drag out whenever there’s whenever Oh what’s the value of an insect but it the
what’s the value of an insect but it the
what’s the value of an insect but it the value of insects to human society
value of insects to human society
value of insects to human society transcends that that very short list I
transcends that that very short list I
transcends that that very short list I mean the colors the the smells the
mean the colors the the smells the
mean the colors the the smells the tastes of our world are largely shaped
tastes of our world are largely shaped
tastes of our world are largely shaped by the insects that have interacted with
by the insects that have interacted with
by the insects that have interacted with plants throughout generations right
plants throughout generations right
plants throughout generations right it’s the spices in our cupboards the
it’s the spices in our cupboards the
it’s the spices in our cupboards the chemistry’s the plant create that we
chemistry’s the plant create that we
chemistry’s the plant create that we then exploit for our medicines for the
then exploit for our medicines for the
then exploit for our medicines for the for cents things like this for flavors
for cents things like this for flavors
for cents things like this for flavors in our food that comes as a response to
in our food that comes as a response to
in our food that comes as a response to herb every from insects the colors of
herb every from insects the colors of
herb every from insects the colors of the natural world are attracting
the natural world are attracting
the natural world are attracting pollinators right we wrap our bodies in
pollinators right we wrap our bodies in
pollinators right we wrap our bodies in the in the secretions of bugs silk
the in the secretions of bugs silk
the in the secretions of bugs silk that’s where it comes from
that’s where it comes from
that’s where it comes from talk about influencing the path of human
talk about influencing the path of human
talk about influencing the path of human history look up the Silk Road a few
history look up the Silk Road a few
history look up the Silk Road a few times and everybody’s heard of
times and everybody’s heard of
times and everybody’s heard of performance-enhancing drugs
performance-enhancing drugs
performance-enhancing drugs how about performance-enhancing bugs
how about performance-enhancing bugs
how about performance-enhancing bugs everybody was dazed and amazed when the
everybody was dazed and amazed when the
everybody was dazed and amazed when the 1992 burs tri knees women’s track team
1992 burs tri knees women’s track team
1992 burs tri knees women’s track team set new records new
set new records new
set new records new world records after consuming fungal
world records after consuming fungal
world records after consuming fungal infected caterpillars that that’s
infected caterpillars that that’s
infected caterpillars that that’s partially their claim to fame so
partially their claim to fame so
partially their claim to fame so tremendous tremendous impact on human
tremendous tremendous impact on human
tremendous tremendous impact on human society but how often do we overlook
society but how often do we overlook
society but how often do we overlook that or stomp it into the ground just to
that or stomp it into the ground just to
that or stomp it into the ground just to hear that crispy Kringle right these
hear that crispy Kringle right these
hear that crispy Kringle right these these insects through I just love that
these insects through I just love that
these insects through I just love that about them right through small
about them right through small
about them right through small individual actions that are aggregated
individual actions that are aggregated
individual actions that are aggregated and synergize with one another
and synergize with one another
and synergize with one another insects shaped the entire world I
recently my career has led me down a
recently my career has led me down a path where I got to interact more and
path where I got to interact more and
path where I got to interact more and more with a lot of farmers that remind
more with a lot of farmers that remind
more with a lot of farmers that remind me of bugs and these guys would actually
me of bugs and these guys would actually
me of bugs and these guys would actually probably in Gales would probably be
probably in Gales would probably be
probably in Gales would probably be flattered by that so you know the crowd
flattered by that so you know the crowd
flattered by that so you know the crowd I run with okay why because through
I run with okay why because through
I run with okay why because through small suit through small changes to
small suit through small changes to
small suit through small changes to their farms through through through
their farms through through through
their farms through through through individual actions and aggregating and
individual actions and aggregating and
individual actions and aggregating and synergizing these things these
synergizing these things these
synergizing these things these regenerative farmers are literally
regenerative farmers are literally
regenerative farmers are literally changing the world don’t ever don’t ever
changing the world don’t ever don’t ever
changing the world don’t ever don’t ever underestimate the the power of little
underestimate the the power of little
underestimate the the power of little things to to overcome seemingly
things to to overcome seemingly
things to to overcome seemingly insurmountable problems obstacles how
insurmountable problems obstacles how
insurmountable problems obstacles how did I get involved with these guys well
did I get involved with these guys well
did I get involved with these guys well I’m an entomologist and what I was
I’m an entomologist and what I was
I’m an entomologist and what I was discovering as I was talking with some
discovering as I was talking with some
discovering as I was talking with some of these farmers is that they were
of these farmers is that they were
of these farmers is that they were eliminating insecticides from their
eliminating insecticides from their
eliminating insecticides from their operations and that’s not supposed to
operations and that’s not supposed to
operations and that’s not supposed to happen when you have a pest problem
happen when you have a pest problem
happen when you have a pest problem you’re supposed to react to that right
you’re supposed to react to that right
you’re supposed to react to that right you’re supposed to to control it what
you’re supposed to to control it what
you’re supposed to to control it what these farmers are doing is is that
these farmers are doing is is that
these farmers are doing is is that they’re reinventing the system so that
they’re reinventing the system so that
they’re reinventing the system so that they don’t have problems to begin with
they don’t have problems to begin with
they don’t have problems to begin with with pests
with pests
with pests okay so they don’t have to react they’ve
okay so they don’t have to react they’ve
okay so they don’t have to react they’ve got it all in built into their system
got it all in built into their system
got it all in built into their system and this transcends entomology this
and this transcends entomology this
and this transcends entomology this transcends pest management they’re there
transcends pest management they’re there
transcends pest management they’re there they’re calling it regenerative
they’re calling it regenerative
they’re calling it regenerative agriculture why regenerative that’s a
agriculture why regenerative that’s a
agriculture why regenerative that’s a it’s an empowering term sustainable
it’s an empowering term sustainable
it’s an empowering term sustainable agriculture isn’t gonna cut it anymore
agriculture isn’t gonna cut it anymore
agriculture isn’t gonna cut it anymore we’ve degraded our natural resource base
we’ve degraded our natural resource base
we’ve degraded our natural resource base to the point where simply sustaining it
to the point where simply sustaining it
to the point where simply sustaining it isn’t going to solve the kinds of
isn’t going to solve the kinds of
isn’t going to solve the kinds of problems and produce the food that we
problems and produce the food that we
problems and produce the food that we need what these guys are doing is
need what these guys are doing is
need what these guys are doing is they’re taking their farms and they’re
they’re taking their farms and they’re
they’re taking their farms and they’re rebuilding the natural resource base
rebuilding the natural resource base
rebuilding the natural resource base while producing food key elements of
while producing food key elements of
while producing food key elements of this instead of focusing solely on
this instead of focusing solely on
this instead of focusing solely on yields or pounds of beef per acre what
yields or pounds of beef per acre what
yields or pounds of beef per acre what they’re focusing on is rebuilding soil
they’re focusing on is rebuilding soil
they’re focusing on is rebuilding soil especially soil organic matter the black
especially soil organic matter the black
especially soil organic matter the black dirt that we all see it’s that skin that
dirt that we all see it’s that skin that
dirt that we all see it’s that skin that covers much of our terrestrial areas of
covers much of our terrestrial areas of
covers much of our terrestrial areas of our planet Wow
our planet Wow
our planet Wow so they’re conserving and promoting soil
so they’re conserving and promoting soil
so they’re conserving and promoting soil while conserving biodiversity on their
while conserving biodiversity on their
while conserving biodiversity on their farms all of the plants insects microbes
farms all of the plants insects microbes
farms all of the plants insects microbes fungi things like this animals on their
fungi things like this animals on their
fungi things like this animals on their farm while producing nutrient-dense food
farm while producing nutrient-dense food
farm while producing nutrient-dense food nutritious food profitably those are the
nutritious food profitably those are the
nutritious food profitably those are the key elements these guys this is not this
key elements these guys this is not this
key elements these guys this is not this is a movement that’s happening unseen
is a movement that’s happening unseen
is a movement that’s happening unseen under the radar screen right now across
under the radar screen right now across
under the radar screen right now across the planet there’s thousands of farmers
the planet there’s thousands of farmers
the planet there’s thousands of farmers that I’ve now visited throughout every
that I’ve now visited throughout every
that I’ve now visited throughout every different scenario that you can invent
different scenario that you can invent
different scenario that you can invent of circumstances production
of circumstances production
of circumstances production circumstances that you can envision and
circumstances that you can envision and
circumstances that you can envision and the practices that they put onto their
the practices that they put onto their
the practices that they put onto their farm to make these systems work very
farm to make these systems work very
farm to make these systems work very substantially but they are unified in
substantially but they are unified in
substantially but they are unified in high in certain principles okay
high in certain principles okay
high in certain principles okay principles what are those principles
principles what are those principles
principles what are those principles well we’re going to talk about those
well we’re going to talk about those
well we’re going to talk about those number one they are stop
number one they are stop
number one they are stop tillage okay-y tillage degrades organic
tillage okay-y tillage degrades organic
tillage okay-y tillage degrades organic matter in several ways and the
matter in several ways and the
matter in several ways and the profitability of a farm field is
profitability of a farm field is
profitability of a farm field is directly correlated with the amount of
directly correlated with the amount of
directly correlated with the amount of organic matter in the soil how does this
organic matter in the soil how does this
organic matter in the soil how does this happen through erosion when you till the
happen through erosion when you till the
happen through erosion when you till the soil that the water rushes away all a
soil that the water rushes away all a
soil that the water rushes away all a lot of the topsoil the wind blows it
lot of the topsoil the wind blows it
lot of the topsoil the wind blows it away over to your neighbor’s fields but
away over to your neighbor’s fields but
away over to your neighbor’s fields but it also eliminates disturbs disrupts the
it also eliminates disturbs disrupts the
it also eliminates disturbs disrupts the biology of the system that grows that
biology of the system that grows that
biology of the system that grows that soil organic matter and so this is
soil organic matter and so this is
soil organic matter and so this is usually the first step almost always in
usually the first step almost always in
usually the first step almost always in in regenerative agriculture they never
in regenerative agriculture they never
in regenerative agriculture they never leave bare soil the energy for a farm
leave bare soil the energy for a farm
leave bare soil the energy for a farm does not come from a gas can the energy
does not come from a gas can the energy
does not come from a gas can the energy comes from the Sun and the only way to
comes from the Sun and the only way to
comes from the Sun and the only way to capture that is with plants and so when
capture that is with plants and so when
capture that is with plants and so when you have bare soil on their farms what
you have bare soil on their farms what
you have bare soil on their farms what they were finding is that they weren’t
they were finding is that they weren’t
they were finding is that they weren’t if they weren’t able to hold the soil
if they weren’t able to hold the soil
if they weren’t able to hold the soil down first off but they also weren’t
down first off but they also weren’t
down first off but they also weren’t able to capture that energy and turn it
able to capture that energy and turn it
able to capture that energy and turn it into things like crops or animals third
into things like crops or animals third
into things like crops or animals third principle some biodiversity is better
principle some biodiversity is better
principle some biodiversity is better than none and more is better than less
than none and more is better than less
than none and more is better than less why is that
why is that
why is that especially with plants because
especially with plants because
especially with plants because biodiversity does things it provides
biodiversity does things it provides
biodiversity does things it provides services just like all those services I
services just like all those services I
services just like all those services I just pointed out with insects
just pointed out with insects
just pointed out with insects biodiversity the life in that system
biodiversity the life in that system
biodiversity the life in that system drives it and the end and what we found
drives it and the end and what we found
drives it and the end and what we found as in science is that biodiversity
as in science is that biodiversity
as in science is that biodiversity scales with how many plant species are
scales with how many plant species are
scales with how many plant species are in an environment or in a habitat and
in an environment or in a habitat and
in an environment or in a habitat and but they’re doing it in agronomically
but they’re doing it in agronomically
but they’re doing it in agronomically feasible ways instead of having 30
feasible ways instead of having 30
feasible ways instead of having 30 inches of bare soil between corn rows
inches of bare soil between corn rows
inches of bare soil between corn rows they fill it up instead of leaving half
they fill it up instead of leaving half
they fill it up instead of leaving half of the season bare soil they put cover
of the season bare soil they put cover
of the season bare soil they put cover crops out there now they vary their crop
crops out there now they vary their crop
crops out there now they vary their crop rotations they take those field margins
rotations they take those field margins
rotations they take those field margins then they fill them up with species and
then they fill them up with species and
then they fill them up with species and then they are in
then they are in
then they are in degrading livestock with their crops
degrading livestock with their crops
degrading livestock with their crops okay and animals and plants insects
okay and animals and plants insects
okay and animals and plants insects microbes all of these things co-evolved
microbes all of these things co-evolved
microbes all of these things co-evolved together so this adds an additional
together so this adds an additional
together so this adds an additional revenue stream in addition to improving
revenue stream in addition to improving
revenue stream in addition to improving the functionality of those crops
the functionality of those crops
the functionality of those crops somewhere down the road along the line
somewhere down the road along the line
somewhere down the road along the line we went down this path and this path
we went down this path and this path
we went down this path and this path said that simplifying growing more
said that simplifying growing more
said that simplifying growing more growing fewer species on more land made
growing fewer species on more land made
growing fewer species on more land made you a good farmer and that
you a good farmer and that
you a good farmer and that simplification of the agro ecosystem has
simplification of the agro ecosystem has
simplification of the agro ecosystem has had profound effects because when you
had profound effects because when you
had profound effects because when you eliminate the diversity from your farm
eliminate the diversity from your farm
eliminate the diversity from your farm you have to replace it with a more input
you have to replace it with a more input
you have to replace it with a more input this is what the country currently looks
this is what the country currently looks
this is what the country currently looks like on 10% of the terrestrial land
like on 10% of the terrestrial land
like on 10% of the terrestrial land surface of our country we have three
surface of our country we have three
surface of our country we have three crop species we had replaced the the
crop species we had replaced the the
crop species we had replaced the the function of hundreds of species with
function of hundreds of species with
function of hundreds of species with three and then we maintain the
three and then we maintain the
three and then we maintain the productivity of that with a lot of
productivity of that with a lot of
productivity of that with a lot of inputs Agrokor you have to replace what
inputs Agrokor you have to replace what
inputs Agrokor you have to replace what biodiversity did with with agrochemicals
but there’s cracks in the ice
but there’s cracks in the ice we can now correlate things like my
we can now correlate things like my
we can now correlate things like my climate change like pollution the
climate change like pollution the
climate change like pollution the degradation of rural communities human
degradation of rural communities human
degradation of rural communities human health problems biodiversity loss like a
health problems biodiversity loss like a
health problems biodiversity loss like a lot of our bees and butterflies we can
lot of our bees and butterflies we can
lot of our bees and butterflies we can correlate those back to how we’re
correlate those back to how we’re
correlate those back to how we’re producing food that’s not to say that I
producing food that’s not to say that I
producing food that’s not to say that I hate farmers right this isn’t this isn’t
hate farmers right this isn’t this isn’t
hate farmers right this isn’t this isn’t this is a what I look at this is I mean
this is a what I look at this is I mean
this is a what I look at this is I mean this is an opportunity to solve really
this is an opportunity to solve really
this is an opportunity to solve really improve our natural resource base while
improve our natural resource base while
improve our natural resource base while producing food in the same place at the
producing food in the same place at the
producing food in the same place at the same time that’s what these regenerative
same time that’s what these regenerative
same time that’s what these regenerative farmers are doing insects see the world
farmers are doing insects see the world
farmers are doing insects see the world much differently than we do each of
much differently than we do each of
much differently than we do each of those little facets produces an image
those little facets produces an image
those little facets produces an image and the insects take all of these
and the insects take all of these
and the insects take all of these different images
different images
different images these different perspectives and they
these different perspectives and they
these different perspectives and they combine them into a single image in
combine them into a single image in
combine them into a single image in their brains to perceive the world
their brains to perceive the world
their brains to perceive the world around them to perceive the whole system
around them to perceive the whole system
around them to perceive the whole system that’s what these regenerative farmers
that’s what these regenerative farmers
that’s what these regenerative farmers are doing right now instead of
are doing right now instead of
are doing right now instead of compartmentalizing each aspect of the
compartmentalizing each aspect of the
compartmentalizing each aspect of the farm
farm
farm they’re combining them into a systems
they’re combining them into a systems
they’re combining them into a systems level perspective I think that that’s
level perspective I think that that’s
level perspective I think that that’s the future of food production what these
the future of food production what these
the future of food production what these guys are doing boldly bravely against
guys are doing boldly bravely against
guys are doing boldly bravely against the grain is that they’re solving
the grain is that they’re solving
the grain is that they’re solving planetary scale problems with our food
planetary scale problems with our food
planetary scale problems with our food system thank you very much
”
Be First to Comment