<i>Hermetia illucens</i> : Multifaceted Advancements in Organic Waste Valorization From Sustainable Farming to Biomedical Innovation

ABSTRACT Tremendous amounts of organic waste are produced annually worldwide, and how to utilize this organic waste with low energy consumption and high efficiency without generating secondary pollution is a valuable research direction. Black soldier fly (BSF) has saprophytic characteristics in its larvae, and can effectively convert organic waste such as crop straw, feces and kitchen waste into insect nutrition (e.g., fat and protein). Therefore, the use of BSF as an alternative animal feed source is gaining attention. The ingestion of various organic wastes by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) reduces the discharge and accumulation of organic waste and provides various usable substances for human life. For instance, fatty acids, chitin, melanin and antimicrobial peptides in BSF are important resources in biology, medicine and the chemical industry. Hence, BSF represents a promising candidate for future biotechnological applications, with far‐reaching implications for sustainable development and future human life. Currently, much progress has been made in the application of BSF in animal feed and health products. However, literature reviews summarizing the applications of BSF in the breeding and biomedicine industries are still lacking. This review not only highlights the role of BSF in organic waste valorization but also emphasizes its significant potential in enhancing animal growth performance, as well as its promising applications in biomedicine and cosmetic industries. Moreover, this review analyzes the current problems encountered in the application of BSF and future research directions to provide reference and potential targets for the development and utilization of BSF.