Pig & Poultry Feed

The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly are an excellent natural food source for chickens and pigs. The animals can consume Black Soldier Fly  larvae as a complete powdered meal, as an oil, or as a meal of whole dried larvae. The larvae offer pigs and poultry a highly sustainable feed solution, with much higher protein and calcium content than traditional protein sources used in pig and poultry feed. In addition, the processed larvae taste better, which is an important factor in ensuring that the animals are happier.

A sustainable alternative to current options

Soybeans are currently commonly used as a protein source in pig and poultry feed. Yet there is increasing pressure against the use of soybeans as a source of dietary protein in animal feed. The main reason for this is that growing soybeans requires a large amount of arable land and natural resources, that could be used for more sustainable types of agriculture, for example by growing food crops. Moreover, soy cannot be grown in many tropical countries in which the needed natural resources are scarce, or in countries that are too dry.

The Black Soldier Fly is a more sustainable protein source because it can be grown entirely on waste and residual streams from food production. Research has shown that pigs and poultry fed on larvae of the Black Soldier Fly are as healthy or even healthier than animals fed on soybean.

 

Aquafeed & Aquaculture

Breeding insects from residual streams holds great promise for sustainable aquaculture production. Traditionally, fishmeal has been used to raise aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish and crustaceans. However, products made from Black Soldier Fly larvae can be used to replace fish meal for the production of fish feed, as its high protein content makes it very suitable for aquaculture purposes.

Preventing overfishing with BSF larvae

Currently, carnivorous fish such as salmon and tuna rely on diets of fishmeal and fish oil, which are mostly derived from wild fish stocks. About 20% of the total wild catch worldwide is processed and fed back to farmed fish. This leads to great pressure on wild fish, resulting in major environmental problems. Research has shown that Black Soldier Flies are an adequate solution to this problem. Trout and salmon-fed larvae of Black Soldier Flies have been found to grow as fast as fish raised on a traditional fishmeal diet. Replacing fish feed and fish oil with Black Soldier Fly larvae removes dependence on wild stocks, revolutionizing the aquaculture industry.

 

Livestock Feed

Insect farming offers great opportunities to meet the rapidly increasing demand for protein for animal feed. The cultivation of the Black Soldier Fly makes it possible to produce protein-rich animal feed while making optimal use of organic waste streams. The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly are an excellent source of high-quality protein for livestock feed.

Replacing valuable crops with BSF larvae

Insect farming offers great opportunities to meet the rapidly increasing demand for protein for animal feed. The cultivation of the Black Soldier Fly makes it possible to produce protein-rich animal feed while making optimal use of organic waste streams. The larvae of the Black Soldier Fly are an excellent source of high-quality protein for livestock feed.

Currently, the livestock industry is often criticized for feeding animals crops and grains that can also be used for human consumption. Soybeans are often fed to livestock as a protein source. Soybeans require significant amounts of natural resources, meaning that they require large amounts of land that could also be used for food crops for human consumption. Therefore, there is a need for alternative protein sources that are more sustainable.

Packed with protein
Insects are very valuable from a nutritional point of view; the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly are one of the most efficient sources of protein. Furthermore, because the larvae can be fed with organic waste streams, virtually no natural resources have to be used to feed the larvae. Because of this, Black Soldier Fly larvae occupy a unique position as a very suitable protein source for livestock.

Livestock can consume Black Soldier Fly larvae as a complete powdered meal, as oil, or as a meal from whole dried larvae. The larvae offer livestock a highly sustainable nutritional solution, containing a much higher amount of protein and calcium than traditional protein sources used in livestock feed.