Bio-recycling of agricultural and food waste for protein production using Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Farming

This paper examines the feasibility of investing in a pilot bio-recycling plant using bio-convertor edible insects for protein production which can serve as a roadmap to build a full-scale production unit. This paper summarizes the outcome of ۴-year experimental study undertaken to evaluate ۵ insects registered by FAO as edible species for their capability in recycling biowaste to produce protein direly needed by animal feed industry. These are Tenebrio molitar, Musca domestica, Lucilia sericata, Gryllus sp. and Hermetia illucens, the black soldier fly (BSF). BSF was found particularly Hermetia illucens, was found not only farmable and useful at larval stage as an efficient waste bio-convertor but also harmless through all its developmental stages. BSF larvae can biologically break down organic wastes generated by households, restaurants, food processing industries as well as agro-waste and convert them to protein that can added to animal feed. The dried larvae are rich source of digestible proteins, essential fatty acids and minerals increasingly required for animal, poultry and fish farming. BSF, therefore, provide an environmentally friendly solution to the serious problem of biowaste disposal and recycling. As an alternative protein source for animal feed, BSF farming can diminish the pressure on agricultural products such as soybeans direly needed to respond to increasing food demands of global population.

کلیدواژه ها:

bio-recycling ، biowastes ، Hermetia illucens ، Black Soldier Fly ، Animal feed ، bioconversion