The Enigmatic Journey of Black Soldier Fly: Revolutionizing Solid Waste Management
Suriya S
*
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 190025, India.
Akhtar Ali Khan
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 190025, India.
Sadhana V
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641003, India.
Showkat Ahmad Sheikh
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 190025, India.
Madhanram G
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 190025, India.
Vengatesh Kumar M
Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – 190025, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rapid urbanization, shifting demographics, and changing consumer behaviours have escalated the challenges of waste management, emphasizing the need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions. Population growth has significantly increased solid waste generation, driven by urban development, economic activities, and the efficiency of waste handling systems. Global waste is expected to surge from 2 billion tonnes in 2016 to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050, with a major share originating from Asia and Africa. In many developing nations, poor organic waste management poses serious environmental threats. Composting, supported by Conversion of Organic Waste using Saprophages (CORS) systems, provides a viable approach. Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae play a key role in this process, efficiently breaking down organic waste and converting it into high-value proteins and lipids for animal feed, along with fertilizer as a secondary product, addressing waste reduction and rising feed costs.
Keywords: Black soldier fly, population growth, solid waste management, fertilizer, biodiesel