Integration of Internet-of-Things as sustainable smart farming technology for the rearing of black soldier fly to mitigate food waste

Background: Throughout the world, food wastage issues continue to plague almost every country. Multiple ideas and solutions have been conceived and are continuously being tested by scientists and government bodies to mitigate food waste management issues. Black Soldier Fly (BSF) rearing is an up-and-coming commodity because of its versatility and multi-function purposes in various fields, such as food waste management, animal feed industry and bioactive compounds industry. Methods: This work looks at setting up an automated smart farming system to rear BSF, with the help of implementing the Internet-of-Things (IoT) into the monitoring system. It also entails a guide on a possible design of a home-based Black-Soldier-Fly smart farm, where the Internet-of-Things components such as sensors, relays, and mobile applications are showcased. Finally, the prospects and challenges that arise with Black-Soldier-Fly smart farming can be identified and discussed. Significant findings: Important growth factors such as temperature, light and pH can be monitored remotely by Internet-of-Things technology. Through IoT implementation, the farm can be remotely controlled and growth parameters can be adjusted with ease. Hence, this would lead to the efficient production of BSF larvae for processing food waste or conversion to bioactive compounds. (c) 2022 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Food wastage is a global issue, and the rearing of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is gaining attention for its versatile applications in various fields. This work discusses the establishment of an automated smart farming system for BSF rearing, utilizing Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology for remote monitoring and control. Significant findings include the ability to monitor important growth factors remotely and adjust growth parameters easily, leading to efficient production of BSF larvae for food waste processing or conversion to bioactive compounds.