Aug 29, 2018
Dr. Jeffery Tomberlin - EVO Conversion Systems
Harnessing the Power of Nature to Address Issues of Global Concern

Because of Dr. Tomberlin’s commitment to protecting the environment while helping others, he, along with a group of close friends, started EVO Conversion Systems, LLC . The mission of EVO is to protect the environment while producing protein with the black soldier fly. Through EVO, individuals are trained to mass produce the black soldier fly as well as partner with other companies that are a part of the EVO Consortium.

Bio: Dr. Jeffery K. Tomberlin is an Associate Professor & AgriLife Research Fellow in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He is also the Director of the Forensic & Investigative Sciences Program at Texas A&M University, and the principle investigator of the Forensic Laboratory for Investigative Entomological Sciences (F.L.I.E.S.) Facility (forensicentomology.tamu.edu) at Texas A&M University.

Research in the F.L.I.E.S. Facility examines species interactions on ephemeral resources such as vertebrate carrion, decomposing plant material and animal wastes in order to better understand the mechanisms regulating arthropod behavior as related to arrival, colonization and succession patterns. The goals of his program are numerous; however, a major focus of his research is on waste management in confined animal facilities as well as concerns with food waste being placed in landfills. His research efforts for the past 19 years have been developing methods for the production of alternate protein sources for use as livestock, poultry and aquaculture feed from these resources. Predominately, these efforts have been accomplished through his research with the black soldier fly. Since arriving on campus at Texas A&M University in 2007, nine Ph.D. and seventeen M.S. students have completed their degrees under his supervision. Dr. Tomberlin welcomes those that are interested in collaborating or gaining experience in black soldier fly as a sustainable system to produce protein or other areas of his research to visit the F.L.I.E.S. Facility.