Scaling Black Soldier Fly Bioconversion of Seafood Processing Waste to Beneficial Use Materials

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Insect rearing provides an innovative solution for maximizing waste streams from seafood processors while minimizing the environmental impact of landfilled-disposed organic material. Many rural seafood operations are isolated and have an inadequate framework for challenges in waste disposal, leading to excessive sanitation costs and ineffective resource utilization. This study aims to create a mixed-diet shell inclusion project using black soldier fly larva (BSFL) as a novel bioconversion system on a large-scale industrial trial, thus allowing the valorization of seafood waste into protein-rich animal feed and agricultural fertilizer amendments. Experimental diets were blended and compared to a commercial control insect feed by introducing either shrimp or crab shells at rates of 25%, 40%, 50%, or 60% of the total diet weight. Chemical analysis was conducted on feed blends, larvae, and frass from each trial to produce an optimal blend ratio to achieve desired use. Larger inclusion of shells was seen to decrease protein yield in larvae by up to 20%, while a lower shell inclusion ratio produced a similar protein percent to commercial control. In contrast, the larval calcium content in the crab shell diet increases by 2.8% with higher inclusions compared to the commercial control. For both diet blends, the frass yielded higher phosphorus and calcium values as shell inclusion increased, thus suggesting beneficial use as an amendment. Overall, this study identifies the benefits of incorporating valorized seafood waste into the insect diet and, through collaboration with seafood processors, could reduce seafood waste and provide a vehicle for valorization through BSFL production.