Using insects to turn waste streams into feed

Product safety is a major concern when using edible insects and insect-derived products due to insects’ diverse microbial community. As commonly used thermal treatments are effective against microorganisms but can have negative effects on product quality and nutritional value, low-energy electron beam (LEEB) is an emerging non-thermal surface treatment technology that preserves product quality. This study assesses the effectiveness of LEEB treatment by conducting three separate experiments with dried black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and yellow mealworm (YMW).The results conclude that LEEB can be an effective and gentle processing technique to support safe dried insect products.

external page Low energy electron beam to support safe whole dried insect products by Peguero, D.A. et al. (2023)

This study aims to evaluate whether quality feed and fertilizer can be safely produced from naturally mycotoxin contaminated crops using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) under realistic field conditions in East Africa as Mycotoxin contamination results into economic and health issues. This leads to an urgently needed valorisation options of contaminated crops. The results show that it is possible to produce feed and fertilizer with BSFL considered safe within the European Union and East African legal limits with maize contaminated with mycotoxins typical for East Africa. Thereby, this research works towards the safe recycling of nutrients from mycotoxin contaminated maize within the food system in East Africa and beyond.

external page Conversion of mycotoxin-contaminated maize by black soldier fly larvae into feed and fertilizer by Gold, M. et al. (2023)

Biowaste treatment with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens L.) can promote a more sustainable food system by reusing nutrients that would otherwise be wasted. However, many agri-food wastes and byproducts are typically high in lignocellulosic fibers, making it resistant to efficient larval and/or microbial degradation. Ammonia pretreatment could be used to partially degrade lignocellulose, making the biowaste more easily degradable by the larvae and/or microorganisms. This study evaluated ammonia pretreatment for lignocellulose degradation and its effect on BSFL performance on four fibrous biowastes: brewers spent grain, cow manure, oat pulp, and grass clippings.

external page Evaluation of ammonia pretreatment of four fibrous biowastes and its effect on black soldier fly larvae rearing performance by Peguero D. A. et al. (2023)

The use of the larvae of the black soldier fly (BSFL), Hermetia illucens L., which can grow and convert a wide range of organic waste materials into insect biomass with use as animal feed, fertilizer and/or bioenergy could be an alternative solution to face challenges associated with agri-food waste management which will be intensified with an increasing food demand. But an existing concern is that substrates with high lignin and cellulose contents have demonstrated poor digestibility by BSFL. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review on the potential pretreatment methods that may improve the digestibility of substrates by BSFL and consequently the production of BSFL.

external page A Review of Pretreatment Methods to Improve Agri-Food Waste Bioconversion by Black Soldier Fly Larvae by Peguero A. A. et al. (2022)

Two new protocols for reseach with black soldier fly larvae published. The first is a method to produce viable, sterile black soldier fly larvae and a gentle method for diet sterilization. The second proposes a novel method to collect frass from individual larvae.  

external page Novel Experimental methods for the investigation of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae by Gold, M. et al. (2020)

Study is first to simulate midgut digestion for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to estimate biowaste conversion performance. BSFL diet intake and midgut region residence times were determined.

external page Estimating black soldier fly larvae biowaste conversion performance by simulation of midgut digestion by Gold, M. et al. (2020)

Using detailed nutrient analyses, this study assessed whether mixing biowastes to similar protein and carbohydrate contents increased the performance and reduced the variability of black soldier fly larvae treatment in comparison to the treatment of individual wastes.  

external page Biowaste treatment with black soldier fly larvae: Increasing performance through the formulation of biowastes based on protein and carbohydrates by Gold, M. et al. (2020)

Life cycle assessment (LCA) of food industry side streams transformation via black soldier fly into intermediate products applicable for feed and food purposes. Further sensitivity analyses identify the most promising directions towards sustainable insect production and estimate the magnitude of impact reductions if those directions are pursued by the industry.

external page Sustainable use of Hermetia illucens insect biomass for feed and food: Attributional and consequential life cycle assessment by Smetena S. et al. (2019)

Processing of biowaste with larvae of the black soldier fly is an emerging waste treatment technology. Based on this review, formulating different types of biowaste, e.g. to produce a diet with a similar protein content or treatment of biowaste with beneficial microbes, has the potential to increase process performance.

external page Decomposition of biowaste macronutrients, microbes, and chemicals in black soldier fly larval treatment: A review by Gold, M. et al. (2018)

Replacing soybeans with insects in egg and poultry meat production could improve environmental sustainability. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have a favorable nutrient composition and can be reared on low-grade waste, but this is associated with the risk of feed and food contamination. The aim of this paper was to assess the transfer of selected contaminants from larval substrates to poultry-derived food by using two different control substrates with different amounts of contaminants.

external page Low transfer of cadmium, lead and aflatoxin B1 to eggs and meat of laying hens receiving diets with black soldier fly larvae reared on contaminated substrates by Heuel M. et al. (2023)

Currently, there is a great interest in finding alternative protein and energy sources to replace soybean-based feeds in poultry diets. The main objective of the present study was to completely replace soybean in layer diets with defatted meal and fat from black soldier fly larvae without adverse effects. To study this objective hens were fed either a soybean-based diet or diets based on defatted black soldier fly larvae meal and fat from two different producers.  

external page Black Soldier Fly larvae meal and fat can completely replace soybean cake and oil in diets for laying hens by Heuel M. et al. (2021)