Black Soldier Fly Production and Applications

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 39928

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Interests: insect physiology; insect microbial ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rising world population is placing great demands for sustainability in food production, both in reducing the input costs as well as proper management of pre- and post-consumer waste. What if one could solve all these problems with one solution? Enter the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, whose larvae can consume a vast variety of organic wastes and convert them into a nutritious insect biomass suitable as animal feed, comparable to fish or soy meal but cheaper. Able to close nutrient loops by recycling the wastes of food production back into the food cycle, the black soldier fly shows great potential for development. As black soldier fly farms spring up worldwide, the species is poised to join honeybees and silkworms as the most widely domesticated insects in agriculture.

Original manuscripts that address any aspects of black soldier fly biology, production, and application are invited for this Special Issue. Topics such as farming and rearing technology and design, adult mating behavior, digestive physiology, waste elimination rates, effects on larvae of chemicals, microbiology, safety, nutrition and effects on animals when used as feed, carbon footprint, larval processing technology, and legal issues are welcome.

Dr. Matan Shelomi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • black soldier fly
  • insects
  • waste management
  • animal feed
  • bioconversion
  • alternative protein
  • insect farming

Published Papers (4 papers)

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11 pages, 969 KiB  
Article
Mass Production of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (L.), (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Reared on Three Manure Types
by Chelsea D. Miranda, Jonathan A. Cammack and Jeffery K. Tomberlin
Animals 2020, 10(7), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071243 - 21 Jul 2020
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 9880
Abstract
Recent interest in the mass production of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae has resulted in many studies being generated. However, a majority of the studies are benchtop, or small-scale, experiments. Results generated from such studies may not translate to large-scale/industrial production. The current [...] Read more.
Recent interest in the mass production of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae has resulted in many studies being generated. However, a majority of the studies are benchtop, or small-scale, experiments. Results generated from such studies may not translate to large-scale/industrial production. The current study was conducted at a conventional large-scale (10,000 larvae/treatment fed seven kg) to determine the impact on selected life-history traits when BSF were fed seven kg of manure (swine, dairy, or poultry) or a control diet (Gainesville diet: 50% wheat bran, 30% alfalfa meal, and 20% corn). Results showed larvae fed dairy manure took one to two days longer to develop to prepupation, with lower survivorship (45%) compared to those fed poultry or swine manure (>70%). Furthermore, the maximum larval weight was reached on day six for those fed swine manure, while other treatments achieved the maximum weight on day seven. However, larvae fed swine manure averaged 150 mg, while those fed the other diets ranged between 175 and 200 mg. Data from this study may be valuable for the industrialization of BSF. Companies using a scale varying from previously published work, including this study, should conduct pilot studies to optimize their system prior to implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Black Soldier Fly Production and Applications)
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16 pages, 2002 KiB  
Article
Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Protein Derivatives: Potential to Promote Animal Health
by Ange Mouithys-Mickalad, Eric Schmitt, Monika Dalim, Thierry Franck, Nuria Martin Tome, Michel van Spankeren, Didier Serteyn and Aman Paul
Animals 2020, 10(6), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10060941 - 29 May 2020
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8692
Abstract
European legislation permits the inclusion of insect proteins in pet and aquaculture diets. Black soldier fly larvae (BSF) are one of the most actively produced species due to their low environmental impact and nutritional characteristics. BSF protein derivatives (proteins and protein hydrolysates) contain [...] Read more.
European legislation permits the inclusion of insect proteins in pet and aquaculture diets. Black soldier fly larvae (BSF) are one of the most actively produced species due to their low environmental impact and nutritional characteristics. BSF protein derivatives (proteins and protein hydrolysates) contain a substantial amount of low molecular weight peptides that are known to possess antioxidant potential. In this study, the in vitro antioxidant potential of commercial BSF proteins and protein hydrolysates was investigated for (1) radical scavenging activity, (2) myeloperoxidase activity modulation, and (3) neutrophil response modulation. Chickenmeal and fishmeal are commonly used in pet food and aquaculture formulations. Hence, both were used as industrial benchmarks during this study. The results indicate that fishmeal and chickenmeal are ineffective at suppressing the oxidative damage caused by neutrophil response and myeloperoxidase activity. Fishmeal and chickenmeal even exhibit pro-oxidant behavior in some of the models used during this study. On the other hand, it was found that BSF protein derivatives could be effective in protecting against the cellular damage resulting from neutrophil and myeloperoxidase activities. The outcomes of this study indicate that BSF protein derivatives could be potentially included in pet food and aquaculture feed formulations as health-promoting ingredients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Black Soldier Fly Production and Applications)
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10 pages, 450 KiB  
Article
Impact of Thermal and High-Pressure Treatments on the Microbiological Quality and In Vitro Digestibility of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae
by Mairead Campbell, Jordi Ortuño, Alexandros Ch. Stratakos, Mark Linton, Nicolae Corcionivoschi, Tara Elliott, Anastasios Koidis and Katerina Theodoridou
Animals 2020, 10(4), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10040682 - 14 Apr 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5166
Abstract
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are gaining importance in animal feeding due to their ability to upcycle low-value agroindustry by-products into high-protein biomass. The present study evaluated the nutritional composition of BSFL reared on brewer’s by-product (BBP) and the impact of thermal (90 [...] Read more.
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are gaining importance in animal feeding due to their ability to upcycle low-value agroindustry by-products into high-protein biomass. The present study evaluated the nutritional composition of BSFL reared on brewer’s by-product (BBP) and the impact of thermal (90 °C for 10/15 min) and high-pressure processing (HPP; 400/600MPa for 1.5/10 min) treatments on the microbial levels and in vitro digestibility in both ruminant and monogastric models. BBP-reared BSFL contained a high level of protein, amino acids, lauric acid, and calcium, and high counts of total viable counts (TVC; 7.97), Enterobacteriaceae (7.65), lactic acid bacteria (LAB; 6.50), and yeasts and moulds (YM; 5.07). Thermal processing was more effective (p < 0.05) than any of the HPP treatments in reducing TVC. Both temperature of 90 °C and pressure of 600 MPa reduced the levels of Enterobacteriaceae, LAB, and YM below the detection limit. In contrast, the application of the 400 MPa showed a reduced inactivation (p < 0.05) potential. Heat-treated samples did not result in any significant changes (p > 0.05) on any of the in vitro digestibility models, whereas HPP showed increased and decreased ruminal and monogastric digestibility, respectively. HPP did not seem to be a suitable, cost-effective method as an alternative to heat-processing for the large-scale treatment of BSFL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Black Soldier Fly Production and Applications)
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25 pages, 888 KiB  
Commentary
Potential of Black Soldier Fly Production for Pacific Small Island Developing States
by Matan Shelomi
Animals 2020, 10(6), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061038 - 16 Jun 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 11761
Abstract
Organic waste such as food waste and livestock manure is a serious concern in the Pacific Islands, where landfills are overflowing and illegal dumping of waste threatens the fragile ecosystems. Organic waste also attracts filth flies, some of which are vectors for pathogens [...] Read more.
Organic waste such as food waste and livestock manure is a serious concern in the Pacific Islands, where landfills are overflowing and illegal dumping of waste threatens the fragile ecosystems. Organic waste also attracts filth flies, some of which are vectors for pathogens that cause human disease. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, has tremendous potential for the Pacific Islands. Capable of digesting almost any organic matter and converting it into insect biomass, black soldier flies are already being used around the world to process organic waste into larvae. The system can be adapted to large-scale municipal composting as well as small sizes for individual livestock farms or even urban households. The larvae can be fed live to fish or poultry, processed into feed comparable to fishmeal or soy meal, or even used to generate biofuel. Thus, the fly not only eliminates waste, but also can improve the sustainability of livestock production. The Pacific Small Island Developing States stand to benefit immensely from black soldier fly bioconversion facilities, used primarily as a means to compost organic waste; however, several knowledge gaps must first be addressed. We reviewed the state of black soldier flies in the Pacific and identified where their use shows the most promise. Research priorities for the field include fly surveys and bioconversion assays using Pacific crop waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Black Soldier Fly Production and Applications)
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