An optimal feeding strategy for black soldier fly larvae biomass production and faecal sludge reduction

The dual roles of efficient degradation and bioconversion of a wide range of organic wastes into valuable animal protein and organic fertiliser, has led to increased interest in black soldier fly (BSF) technology as a highly promising tool for sustainable waste management and alternative protein production. The current study investigated the potential application of BSF technology in the valorisation of faecal sludge (FS), a common organic waste in the urban informal settlements in low and middle-income countries. We evaluated the effect of different feeding rates (100, 150, 200 and 250 mg/larva/day), different feeding regimen and supplementation with other waste feedstock (food remains, FR; brewers waste, BW; and banana peelings, BP) on BSF larvae (BSFL) growth rates/yield and FS reduction efficiency. Results showed significantly (P<0.01) higher prepupal yield (179 +/- 3.3 and 190 +/- 1.2 g) and shorter larval development time (16.7 and 15 days) when reared on 200 and 250 mg/larva/day FS, respectively. However, different feeding regimes of FS did not significantly affect larval growth rate and prepupal yield (P=0.56). Supplementation of FS with other organic substrates resulted in significantly increased BSFL biomass production and substrate reduction, and shortened larval development time; with the effect was more pronounced when FS was supplemented with FR and at 30% supplementation. Protein:fat ratios for BSFL reared on FS, FS:FR, FS:BW were significantly (P<0.05) higher (2.51, 2.53, and 2.44, respectively) compared to FS:BP mixture (1.99). These results demonstrated that supplementation of FS with locally available organic waste can be used to improve its suitability as feedstock for BSF production and organic waste bioremediation from the environment. In conclusion, a daily feeding strategy of substrate containing FS supplemented with 30% organic waste co-substrate at feeding rate of 200 mg/larva/day can be used as a guideline for BSFL mass production and bioremediation of FS both at small-and large-scale level.