Bioconversion of food waste into value-added products via black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)

The bioconversion of food waste (FW) by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) offers numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, lower capital and operating costs, and smaller land requirements compared to other FW management methods. BSFL can ingest a wide range of organic waste during their larvae stage. Substrate palatability for BSFL is influenced by composition, with lignocellulosic and greasy substrates being less favourable. To improve the suitability of these substrates, blending and fermentation techniques are introduced in this chapter. Apart from that, this chapter also explores the applications of BSFL. With their rich protein and lipid content, they are excellent sources of animal feed for fish and poultry and potentially for human consumption. However, the high level of unsaturated fats in BSFL lipids may pose health risks, suggesting defatted BSFL meals as alternative feeds and the extracted fats for biodiesel production due to their high oxidative stability. Additionally, BSFL compost or frass is a suitable fertiliser with good nutritional profiles. However, the immature BSFL compost may contain high levels of phytotoxins and pathogens which could hinder plant growth. Further studies on post-treatment methods for immature frass are needed. Overall, FW composting via BSFL is an economically viable and low-tech process suitable for adoption in developing countries with minimal capital investment.