Abstract

The management of food waste and loss of nutrients into the environment is a pertinent problem. Sustainable livestock production under increased competition and growing cost of nutrients is a challenge faced by livestock sector. Conversion of biowaste utilising insects in the form of mini livestock is an emerging trend which offers solution for both the problems. Black soldier fly (BSF), is a naturally occurring beneficial fly and its larva convert’s food and other biowaste to protein rich biomass. The present study was conducted to study the nutrient conversion efficiency of Black soldier fly larvae on food waste. It was found that under natural settings the larvae were able to achieve a bioconversion of 38-56 per cent with yield of crude protein in the range of 38 to 40 per cent. The cost of production of one unit of CP was 0.30 to 0.45 rupee in comparison to soya bean, which cost one rupee. Hence BSF could act as viable contender for soyabean as a protein source for animals.

Keywords : Black soldier fly, Food waste, Larval biomass, Crude protein