Valorização de resíduos agroindustriais : desenvolvimento larval e eficiência no processo de tratamento com Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomydae).

Abstract

This research investigated the use of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) in the treatment of agro-industrial waste, converting organic waste into value-added products. The improper disposal of agro-industrial residues, such as fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and food processing by-products, poses a significant environmental challenge. Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) feed on organic matter, offering a promising environmental solution. Throughout the study, different agro-industrial residues, including barley bagasse, orange bagasse, olive pomace, and grape pomace, were tested as feed sources for BSFL. The results obtained demonstrated remarkable performance of BSFL fed with the tested agro-industrial residues. Notably, barley bagasse led to larval viability of up to 96%, with a shortened development cycle of only 18 days. Additionally, the larvae exhibited protein contents exceeding 45%, establishing themselves as a highly nutritious and promising source for animal feed. These findings highlight the outstanding efficiency of BSF in waste bioconversion and high-quality biomass production, reinforcing its potential as a sustainable alternative for agro-industrial waste valorization. The nutritional analysis of the larvae revealed a rich profile of high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, in addition to essential minerals for animal nutrition. This study underscores the viability and efficiency of BSFL as a tool for sustainable waste management, promoting a circular economy, generating value from waste that would otherwise be discarded, and contributing to the mitigation of the negative environmental impacts associated with improper agro-industrial waste disposal.