Harvesting Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) as a Bioconversion Technology for Transforming Food Waste into High-Protein Feed
Keywords:
Black soldier fly caterpillars, Hermetia illucens, harvesting, super high protein feed, bioconversion, circular bioeconomy, food wasteAbstract
Harvesting Black Soldier Fly Caterpillars, commonly known as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens), has emerged as a highly promising bioconversion technology for transforming food waste into super high protein feed ingredients. This technology offers an integrated solution to two major global challenges: the rapid accumulation of organic food waste and the increasing demand for sustainable, high-quality protein sources for animal production. BSFL are capable of efficiently converting diverse food waste streams into nutrient-dense larval biomass rich in protein and lipids, while simultaneously generating frass that can be utilized as organic fertilizer. This review article synthesizes recent scientific findings on BSFL harvesting and bioconversion systems, focusing on substrate utilization, conversion efficiency, nutritional characteristics of harvested larvae, environmental benefits, and applications in animal feed. Overall, BSFL bioconversion technology represents a scalable and environmentally sustainable pathway for producing super high protein feed within a circular bioeconomy framework.
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