Fatty acid composition of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) – Possibilities and limitations for modification through diet

Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens; BSFL) can convert organic wastes into a nutrient-rich biomass suitable in animal feed, which could be a way to achieve more sustainable production of food. However, little is known about how the diet fed to BSFL affects their nutritional value, especially their fatty acid composition. In this study, BSFL were fed 11 diets based on four different organic waste sources (mussels, bread, fish and food waste). Fatty acid and proximate composition (dry matter, crude fat, crude protein and ash) were analysed in the diets, in two-week-old larvae and substrate residues. Larval weight, survival and feed conversion were also recorded. The diet was found to affect all…

• I
  Interreg