A demonstration of waste upcycling using black soldier fly larvae

Over 30% of food produced in the US ultimately ends up in landfills. Food “loss” or “waste” is an inevitable part of ecosystem functioning, but in natural ecosystems these nutrients are reintroduced to the food chain through decomposers. Insects that naturally decompose organic waste could play an important role in upcycling food waste. Black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) are native to the southern U.S. and do not bite as adults, instead naturally colonizing decaying organic matter and producing high larval densities that can outcompete other fly species that are considered nuisance pests. We have begun to demonstrate waste upcycling using black soldier flies on the University of Delaware campus, by rearing the larvae in simply constructed bins while being fed with food waste from local businesses including a brewery, a restaurant, and a campus dining hall. Larvae have been fed different combinations of food waste to see if there is an optimal ratio of grain, meat, or produce by measuring growth, yield, and amount of food waste reduced. Those larvae either emerged as adults to continue colonizing and ovipositing in the bins or harvested at the prepupal stage as they could be used later as an alternative protein source for livestock and wildlife. All this information was shared by bringing groups to my upcycling site where I can share my experiences and educate on reducing food waste with black soldier fly larvae.