Optimising and industrialising black soldier fly (BSF) production -redirecting food waste to livestock feed production using insects – Confirmation Seminar

Annually, 1.3 billion tonnes of biowaste are generated whilst the current waste management techniques are reported to cause a burden to the environment. The reduction of biowastes by insect larvae and their use as feedstock for animals has been receiving attention lately. Black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) are recognised as an ideal species for upstreaming biowastes owing to the ability of their larvae (BSFL) to reduce different type of wastes, such as agricultural, household, and municipal wastes, along with human and animal excreta. The nutritional composition and amino acid profile of BSFL’s raised on these organic wastes corresponds to several feed constituents making it a suitable material for animal feed. However, the commercialisation of BSFL in Australia is limited due to existing legislative regulations and the lack of information regarding their safety as feed. The proposed research project is aimed to determine the safety and nutritional composition of BSFL reared from different food waste streams. The outcomes of this project will assist in the development of legislation pertaining to the use of BSFL as animal feed upon rearing them from food waste thereby, promoting the industrialisation of BSFL as feed for livestock.