Els van de Zande

Els van de Zande is a researcher affiliated with Wageningen University & Research, specializing in leveraging insect-derived residual streams to improve crop growth and resilience. Her work aligns with circular agriculture principles, focusing on sustainable applications of insect frass and exuviae in agricultural systems.

• Research Interests: Soil amendment with insect waste, plant health enhancement, biological pest control, rhizosphere microbiology, circular economy in agriculture, and sustainable feed production.

Publications & Projects: Her 2024 PhD thesis, Improving crop growth and resilience utilising residual streams from insect production, and a co-authored article in Functional Ecology highlight her contributions to understanding how insect exuviae improve plant resistance to pests. She has also co-authored multiple reports on insect-based sustainable feed systems.

• Collaborations: Works closely with Prof. Marcel Dicke (Promotor) and Dr. Joop van Loon (Promotor) on projects exploring insect waste applications.