Sustainable Bioconversion of Food Waste by Utilizing Black Soldier Fly

Abstract

As the global population increases, the volume of food waste is projected to rise significantly. Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) is a highly efficient organic decomposer for organic waste management. Its larvae bio-convert organic wastes into a nutrient-rich material high in proteins and lipids. This versatility makes Black soldier fly (BSF) a valuable resource for producing sustainable animal feed, biofuel, and organic fertilizer. Additionally, BSF farming reduces environmental pollution, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, and supports circular economy principles. This paper explores the biological characteristics, applications, and potential benefits of BSF larvae in food waste recycling, and resource recovery. Utilizing black soldier fly larvae for food waste bioconversion is highly effective, achieving a 70 % reduction over 15 days. This process simultaneously generates valuable products: fresh larval biomass and nutrient-rich poultry feed. Their high protein (40%) and fat content (30%) make them a promising alternative to conventional animal feed, particularly in culture of fish, poultry, and livestock industries. In this work, an attempt was taken to compute and compared various growth parameters of poultry which were feed on conventional diet and also with BSF mixed diet.

Introduction

The text addresses the growing global issue of food waste, highlighting that a significant portion of food—about 1.05 billion tonnes globally and 78.2 million tonnes in India—is wasted, contributing to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional disposal methods like landfilling and open dumping are unsustainable, creating the need for innovative waste management solutions.

The study proposes the use of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as an effective, eco-friendly method for bioconverting food waste. BSFL can rapidly consume organic waste and transform it into valuable by-products such as protein-rich larvae (used as poultry or fish feed) and nutrient-rich frass (used as organic fertilizer). This approach supports sustainable agriculture and waste recycling.

The research focuses on utilizing canteen food waste for BSFL cultivation, evaluating poultry growth when fed with BSFL, and exploring its potential as an alternative protein source. BSFL are highly nutritious, containing high levels of protein, lipids, and fiber, making them suitable for animal feed.

The methodology involves collecting canteen waste, rearing BSFL under controlled environmental conditions, and monitoring their growth and lifecycle. The larvae efficiently convert waste during their developmental stages, and the harvested larvae are incorporated into poultry feed at specific proportions.

Overall, the study demonstrates that BSFL-based bioconversion is a sustainable, cost-effective solution for managing food waste while simultaneously producing valuable resources like animal feed and organic fertilizer, contributing to environmental conservation and resource efficiency.

Conclusion

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae serve as a sustainable, protein-rich alternative to traditional poultry feed, offering high nutritional value and effective waste management. A 75% BSF + 25% regular feed ratio provides optimal growth, feed intake, and health, while 100% BSF remains a cost-effective option with potential for improvement through nutrient optimization. BSF bioconversion efficiently transforms canteen waste into valuable protein feed which provides more protein to the poultry birds and organic fertilizer, operating faster and more cleanly than conventional composting.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Rakesh Kumar Behera, Amar Kumar Das, Md Khalid Khan, Saudamini Samantaray. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.