CVC 4 – From fish to soil: Bioconversion by black soldier fly
By 2050, the global population growth is expected to increase, resulting in 70% increase in the demand for food.
In particular, the growing demand for animal protein will severely strain the agricultural production system. The novel insect industry is addressing this challenge by producing insect protein for animal feed applications using significantly less water, land, and energy compared to traditional protein production for animal feed (i.e., soy).
However, the EcoeFISHent project explores another promising novel application of insect biomass obtained via rearing BSF to convert organic side-streams.
The obtained product will be frass, valuable by-product of the bio-conversion process, to produce alternative soil fertilizer. Frass is a complex blend of organic matter not assimilated by the insects, insect exoskeletons, and insect excrements, highly nutritional and beneficial to plants as it is a natural form of fertilizer. Other co-product of the CVC that allow to reach 100% circularity are insect oil and chitin that will be used, respectively, as component for biodiesel production and as ingredient for cosmetic product to provide antimicrobial properties
