Management of Kitchen Waste Material Through the Use of Black Soldier Fly Larvae ( <i>Hermetia illucens</i> ) for Sustainable Waste Management and Availability of Feed for Livestock

Using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to manage and treat biodegradable waste, such as kitchen waste, is a promising and sustainable method for handling organic waste generated from homes, schools, farms, and industries. While feeding on this waste, the black soldier fly larvae grow and increase in biomass, which can then serve as feed for livestock, including poultry and fish. A total of 50 larvae, each weighing 0.10 g and 10 days old, were inoculated into a plastic container of specified dimensions and fed with 50 g of kitchen waste (substrate). The number of black soldier fly larvae decreased from 50 to 37, with a total weight of 1.3 g, while the substrate (50 g) reduced to 18.32 g (frass). The proximate and chemical composition analysis yielded the following results: moisture content at 71%, ash content at 2.32%, crude protein at 18.40%, crude fiber at 1.34%, crude fat at 2.28%, and carbohydrates at 4.2%. Among the minerals, calcium was recorded at 476.30 mg/100 g, phosphorus at 126.30 mg/100 g, potassium at 545.80 mg/100 g, sodium at 65.40 mg/100 g, magnesium at 124.60 mg/100 g, iron at 5.75 mg/100 g, zinc at 4.60 mg/100 g, copper at 0.16 mg/100 g, and manganese at 0.12 mg/100 g. For vitamins, vitamin B1 was measured at 0.19 mg/100 g, vitamin B2 at 1.60 mg/100 g, and vitamin E at 1.10 mg/100 g. The results obtained during the feeding of the larvae indicate that BSFL has the potential to reduce organic waste to frass, which can serve as a biofertilizer. Most of the proximate and chemical composition values are consistent with those found in BSFL fed with other substrates, and they meet the nutrient requirements of most livestock feeds. The proximate, mineral, and vitamin composition of BSFL under investigation suggests that BSFL fed with kitchen waste could be a valuable and promising feed source for the livestock industry.