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The popularity of insect protein as a food and feed supplement is growing. Protein quality, end use and prices vary considerably between different insect species, which may incentivise insect protein adulteration. Here, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics were used to detect the presence of cricket, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and mealworm proteins in a simulated complex insect protein mixture. Additionally, BSFL protein powders collected from three commercial sources were investigated to determine whether the NIR-based technology can discriminate the proteins obtained from different companies based on their composition. The proximate analysis suggests compositional protein, fat and chitin differences between insect species. A partial least square (PLS) regression model obtained Q2 values ranging from 0.991 to 0.997 for the predictions of the content of protein mixtures containing BSFL, cricket and mealworm powders mixed at various proportions. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSCV) values range from 1.8% to 2.9%, and residual prediction deviation (RPD) values from 10.4 to 17.1 for the adulterated insect protein powders. The accuracy of the prediction model (∼2%) for the adulterated percentages varied depending on the insect species. The NIR spectra could differentiate (Q2 = 0.999) the origin of BSFL protein powders from three different companies and two types of processing (whole meal and defatted samples). Overall, this study established a rapid and low-cost insect protein adulteration monitoring pipeline for the three common insect protein powders. We envisage that NIR can be applied to assess insect adulteration, authentication, and quality control in the emerging insect food and feed industries.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of either fresh or dried black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in diets on the production parameters and chemical composition of Thai frogs (Rana rugosa) cultured in net cages. Frog fingerlings have an initial weight of 20.4 g and were distributed randomly into fifteen net cages (2 x 3 x 1.5 m) at a density of 240 frog.net cage-1. Including five dietary treatments named: T1 (100% commercial feed used as a control), T2 (100% dried BSFL), T3 (50% dried BSFL + 50% commercial feed), T4 (50% fresh BSFL + 50% commercial feed), and T5 (100% fresh BSFL) with three replicates for each treatment. The results showed that the survival rate of frogs ranged from 64.3% to 87.0%, improved feed conversion ratio (1.43 to 1.90%), increased live weight (194.7 – 244.6 g), daily weight gain (2.9 – 3.7 g.day-1), and frog’s yield (6.30 – 7.96 kg.m-2). The contents of crude protein (18.21 – 23.19%), ether extract (0.28 – 0.53%), and total ash (0.99 – 1.05%) of frog meat in this study were affected by the inclusion of either fresh or dried BSFL in the diets of frogs. In recommendation, the diet comprised from 50% fresh BSFL + 50% commercial feed could be applied successfully in Thai frog cage production.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) composting is a treatment procedure that generates two products: frass compost and BSFL. These products have different uses. BSFL can be used as animal feed and frass compost as soil fertiliser, and they need to be separated after the composting procedure has been finished. A separator of the vibrating sieve type, currently in use by a research group at SLU for separating BSFL from the frass compost generated by the composting process, was tested and evaluated in terms of fraction purity and separation time. It was found that the fraction purity was over 90% for the BSFL fraction, and that the separation time was approximately 1-1.5 minutes for 4 kg of material. Hotspots for improvement were identified and a new vibrating sieve was designed and built with the aim of providing flexibility for improving fraction purity, separation time and operator ergonomy for the end-customer. A CAD model of the new vibrating sieve was designed in SolidWorks with a complete set of technical drawings and purchasing components. These drawings were sent out for manufacturing at a workshop and the new vibrating sieve was built and tested. The new vibrating sieve was functioning properly, but its optimal mechanical settings need further research and testing. This separator design could be emulated by others, and also improved, and this research could be used for improving the process outcome for future BSFL separation processes.

Insects can play an important role to upgrade waste streams into high-grade proteins and fats as food and feed ingredients or non-food products. The aim of this research was to assess the feasibility to use waste streams with a low value for direct application as animal feed as substrates to grow BSF larvae in terms of larval growth rate, waste reduction index, and efficiency of conversion of ingested feed. The growth of black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens larvae and conversion of biowaste was assessed in triplicate in biowaste substrates: chicken feed (CF; reference diet), pig manure solid (PMS), Betafert® solid (BTFS), swill (SW), olive pulp (OP), pig manure liquid mixed with chicken feed (PMLCF), and silage grass (SG). Per kilogram fresh substrate 2500 starter (8-days-old, second instar) larvae were incubated in 21 plastic containers (75 × 47 × 15 cm). The BSF larvae were fed according to a batch feeding system. Highest growth rate was found in larvae reared on SW (13.4 mg/d). Larval growth rate was even higher than in larvae reared on the reference substrate CF (7.2 mg/d). Growth rate in larvae reared on PMLCF (7.3 mg/d) did not differ from CF, whereas growth rate of larvae reared on PMS (3.2 mg/d) was lower than on CF. Growth rate of larvae reared on BTFS, OP and SG was very low (0.6, 0.2 and 0.7 mg/d, respectively). Waste Reduction Index (WRI) was highest on SW (11.3), followed by PMLCF (9.3), and both were higher than WRI on CF (8.5). Waste Reduction Index further decreased in descending order from PMS, SG, BTFS to OP (7.6, 4.0, 2.9 and 1.7, respectively). The Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested substrate (ECI) was highest on SW (0.31), followed in descending order by PMLCF, CF and PMS (0.25, 0.21 and 0.18, respectively). The substrates OP, BTFS and SG (0.16, 0.15 and 0.14, respectively) resulted in a lower ECI than other substrates. Highest CO2 and lowest NH3 concentrations were found above substrates with the highest larval growth performances. This

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) composting is a treatment procedure that generates two products: frass compost and BSFL. These products have different uses. BSFL can be used as animal feed and frass compost as soil fertiliser, and they need to be separated after the composting procedure has been finished. A separator of the vibrating sieve type, currently in use by a research group at SLU for separating BSFL from the frass compost generated by the composting process, was tested and evaluated in terms of fraction purity and separation time. It was found that the fraction purity was over 90% for the BSFL fraction, and that the separation time was approximately 1-1.5 minutes for 4 kg of material. Hotspots for improvement were identified and a new vibrating sieve was designed and built with the aim of providing flexibility for improving fraction purity, separation time and operator ergonomy for the end-customer. A CAD model of the new vibrating sieve was designed in SolidWorks with a complete set of technical drawings and purchasing components. These drawings were sent out for manufacturing at a workshop and the new vibrating sieve was built and tested. The new vibrating sieve was functioning properly, but its optimal mechanical settings need further research and testing. This separator design could be emulated by others, and also improved, and this research could be used for improving the process outcome for future BSFL separation processes.

The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus), has been largely utilized for animal feed. Due to its interesting composition, BSFL has great potential to be further implemented in the human diet. Herein we compared the flour and protein extract composition based on their moisture, ash, amino acids, mineral, and protein content. To have wide knowledge on protein profile and behavior, SDS-page electrophoresis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to give information about protein structure and thermal stability, respectively. The flour and protein extract contained respectively 37.3% and 61.1% of protein. DSC graph reported a glass transition temperature around 30 °C, recognizable by a shift in the curve, and an endothermic peak for solid melting at around 200 °C. FTIR analysis showed the main amide bands (A, B, I, II, III) for the flour and protein extract. The foam properties of BSFL protein extract were explored under different temperatures treatment, and the best foam stability was reached at 85 °C with 15 min of treatment. The data highlight the promising techno-functional properties of BSFL protein extract, and that the nutritional composition might be suitable for further use of BSFL as food fortification system.

Pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) has low economic value and is therefore often composted or incinerated. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPBS to breed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), so improving resource efficiency and supplying protein and fat to the animal feed market. BSFL were reared on PPBS in a climate chamber on a laboratory scale in order to assess nutrient deficiency, inhibition and whether the BSFL recycle the PPBS well or not. The PPBS used came from a chemi-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The effect of supplementing nutrient solution added either into the PPBS or as a free liquid surface were studied. Prepupae dry weight, survival rate until prepupae stage and residual dry PPBS were measured. The addition of reference diet leachate into the PPBS did not have a significant impact on the weight of the prepupae (2.0 mg) but the survival rate was significantly higher (16.0 %). On the other hand, the addition of reference diet leachate as a free liquid surface had a significant impact on both the weight of the prepupae (4.8 mg) and the survival rate (25.7 %). The bio – conversion and PPBS – reduction was as best 0.4 % and 3.2 % respectively. This study has proven that the nutrients in PPBS are not readily available to the larvae. Addition of reference diet leachate increase the survival rate which opens up for possibilities of co-digestion. However, it is clear that under the tested conditions, BSFL is not recycling PPBS well and BSFL as a method for recycling of PPBS need further research.

Pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) has low economic value and is therefore often composted or incinerated. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPBS to breed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), so improving resource efficiency and supplying protein and fat to the animal feed market. BSFL were reared on PPBS in a climate chamber on a laboratory scale in order to assess nutrient deficiency, inhibition and whether the BSFL recycle the PPBS well or not. The PPBS used came from a chemi-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The effect of supplementing nutrient solution added either into the PPBS or as a free liquid surface were studied. Prepupae dry weight, survival rate until prepupae stage and residual dry PPBS were measured. The addition of reference diet leachate into the PPBS did not have a significant impact on the weight of the prepupae (2.0 mg) but the survival rate was significantly higher (16.0 %). On the other hand, the addition of reference diet leachate as a free liquid surface had a significant impact on both the weight of the prepupae (4.8 mg) and the survival rate (25.7 %). The bio – conversion and PPBS – reduction was as best 0.4 % and 3.2 % respectively. This study has proven that the nutrients in PPBS are not readily available to the larvae. Addition of reference diet leachate increase the survival rate which opens up for possibilities of co-digestion. However, it is clear that under the tested conditions, BSFL is not recycling PPBS well and BSFL as a method for recycling of PPBS need further research.

Pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) has low economic value and is therefore often composted or incinerated. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPBS to breed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), so improving resource efficiency and supplying protein and fat to the animal feed market. BSFL were reared on PPBS in a climate chamber on a laboratory scale in order to assess nutrient deficiency, inhibition and whether the BSFL recycle the PPBS well or not. The PPBS used came from a chemi-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The effect of supplementing nutrient solution added either into the PPBS or as a free liquid surface were studied. Prepupae dry weight, survival rate until prepupae stage and residual dry PPBS were measured. The addition of reference diet leachate into the PPBS did not have a significant impact on the weight of the prepupae (2.0 mg) but the survival rate was significantly higher (16.0 %). On the other hand, the addition of reference diet leachate as a free liquid surface had a significant impact on both the weight of the prepupae (4.8 mg) and the survival rate (25.7 %). The bio – conversion and PPBS – reduction was as best 0.4 % and 3.2 % respectively. This study has proven that the nutrients in PPBS are not readily available to the larvae. Addition of reference diet leachate increase the survival rate which opens up for possibilities of co-digestion. However, it is clear that under the tested conditions, BSFL is not recycling PPBS well and BSFL as a method for recycling of PPBS need further research.

Pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) has low economic value and is therefore often composted or incinerated. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPBS to breed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), so improving resource efficiency and supplying protein and fat to the animal feed market. BSFL were reared on PPBS in a climate chamber on a laboratory scale in order to assess nutrient deficiency, inhibition and whether the BSFL recycle the PPBS well or not. The PPBS used came from a chemi-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The effect of supplementing nutrient solution added either into the PPBS or as a free liquid surface were studied. Prepupae dry weight, survival rate until prepupae stage and residual dry PPBS were measured. The addition of reference diet leachate into the PPBS did not have a significant impact on the weight of the prepupae (2.0 mg) but the survival rate was significantly higher (16.0 %). On the other hand, the addition of reference diet leachate as a free liquid surface had a significant impact on both the weight of the prepupae (4.8 mg) and the survival rate (25.7 %). The bio – conversion and PPBS – reduction was as best 0.4 % and 3.2 % respectively. This study has proven that the nutrients in PPBS are not readily available to the larvae. Addition of reference diet leachate increase the survival rate which opens up for possibilities of co-digestion. However, it is clear that under the tested conditions, BSFL is not recycling PPBS well and BSFL as a method for recycling of PPBS need further research.

Pulp and paper bio-sludge (PPBS) has low economic value and is therefore often composted or incinerated. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using PPBS to breed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL), so improving resource efficiency and supplying protein and fat to the animal feed market. BSFL were reared on PPBS in a climate chamber on a laboratory scale in order to assess nutrient deficiency, inhibition and whether the BSFL recycle the PPBS well or not. The PPBS used came from a chemi-thermomechanical pulp/groundwood pulp mill. The effect of supplementing nutrient solution added either into the PPBS or as a free liquid surface were studied. Prepupae dry weight, survival rate until prepupae stage and residual dry PPBS were measured. The addition of reference diet leachate into the PPBS did not have a significant impact on the weight of the prepupae (2.0 mg) but the survival rate was significantly higher (16.0 %). On the other hand, the addition of reference diet leachate as a free liquid surface had a significant impact on both the weight of the prepupae (4.8 mg) and the survival rate (25.7 %). The bio – conversion and PPBS – reduction was as best 0.4 % and 3.2 % respectively. This study has proven that the nutrients in PPBS are not readily available to the larvae. Addition of reference diet leachate increase the survival rate which opens up for possibilities of co-digestion. However, it is clear that under the tested conditions, BSFL is not recycling PPBS well and BSFL as a method for recycling of PPBS need further research.

Fast-growing broilers spend most their time inactive and are therefore prone to experience leg problems. Environmental enrichment which facilitates intrinsically motivated behaviour scan potentially promote activity and reduce leg problems, thereby improving broiler welfare. A promising environmental enrichment method is the scattering of desired feed items, such as insects which are highly attractive to broilers. We studied the effect of providing live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) scattered on the litter on broiler behaviour, leg health and performance. One-day-old male broilers were assigned to one of five treatments(eight pens/treatment, nine broilers/pen): a control without BSFL and four treatments with BSFL in different amounts (5% or 10% of estimated dietary dry matter intake; A5 andA10 respectively) and frequencies (two or four times a day; F2 and F4 respectively). All broilers were fed diets formulated to ensure a similar energy and nutrient intake. Broiler weight and leg health were determined on day 42. The behavioural time budget was determined weekly by observations for 7 h per day using 12-min scan sampling, and activity around larval provisioning was determined by 3-min scan sampling from 9 min before, until 30 min after larval provisioning on day 15/16, 29/30 and 40/41. Broilers in all larval provisioning treatments had a different behavioural time budget than controls, with higher levels of foraging behaviour, walking, standing idle and general activity during at least three of the five observation days (p<0.05 compared to controls). Generally, active behaviours were most profoundly increased in A10F4 broilers. Time spent active and in standing posturedeclined from week 4 onwards in A10F4, whereas for all other treatments this decline occurred already in week 2. Activity during 30 minutes after larval provisioning was higher for A10 than A5 treatments (p<0.05 for all days) but overall not affected by frequency of larval provisioning. Hock burn occ

Traditional feed composition tables have been a useful tool in the field of animal nutrition throughout the last 70 yr. The objective of this paper is to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with creating large feed ingredient composition tables. This manuscript will focus on three topics discussed during the National Animal Nutrition Program (NANP) Symposium in ruminant and nonruminant nutrition carried out at the American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, on July 11, 2019, namely: 1) Using large datasets in feed composition tables and the importance of standard deviation in nutrient composition as well as different methods to obtain accurate standard deviation values, 2) Discussing the importance of fiber in animal nutrition and the evaluation of different methods to estimate fiber content of feeds, and 3) Description of novel feed sources, such as insects, algae, and single-cell protein, and challenges associated with the inclusion of such feeds in feed composition tables. Development of feed composition tables presents important challenges. For instance, large datasets provided by different sources tend to have errors and misclassifications. In addition, data are in different file formats, data structures, and feed classifications. Managing such large databases requires computers with high processing power and software that are also able to run automated procedures to consolidate files, to screen out outlying observations, and to detect misclassified records. Complex algorithms are necessary to identify misclassified samples and outliers aimed to obtain accurate nutrient composition values. Fiber is an important nutrient for both monogastrics and ruminants. Currently, there are several methods available to estimate the fiber content of feeds. However, many of them do not estimate fiber accurately. Total dietary fiber should be used as the standard method to estimate fiber concentrations in feeds. Finally, novel feed sources a

In current feed evaluation systems, the nutritional value of protein sources in diets for pigs is based on the ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids, which does not account for the kinetics of protein digestion along the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of the present study was to determine the in vitro protein digestion kinetics of different protein sources (soya bean meal (SBM), wheat gluten (WG), rapeseed meal (RSM), whey powder (WP), dried porcine plasma protein, yellow meal worm larvae and black soldier fly larvae (BSF)). Protein sources were incubated with pepsin at pH 3.5 for 0 to 90 min and subsequently with pancreatin at pH 6.8 for 0 to 210 min at 39°C. The in vitro protein digestion kinetics were described as the kinetics of nitrogen (N) solubilisation and the release of low molecular weight peptides (LMW) (<500 Da). The N solubilisation rate ranged from 0.025 min-1 for BSF to 0.685 min-1 for WP during the incubation with pepsin, and from 0.027 min-1 for RSM to 0.343 min-1 for WP during the incubation with pancreatin. The release rate of LMW peptides ranged from 0.027 min-1 for WG to 0.093 min-1 for WP during the incubation with pepsin, and from 0.029 min-1 for SBM to 0.385 min-1 for WP. Black soldier fly larvae showed a similar release rate of LMW peptides as WP during the incubation with pancreatin. At the end of the sequential incubation with pepsin (90 min) and pancreatin (210 min), WG and WP showed the highest percentage of N present in LMW peptides relative to total N (78% and 79%, respectively), whereas SBM showed the lowest (35%). In conclusion, protein sources for pig diets show substantial differences in in vitro protein digestion kinetics as measured by the kinetics of N solubilisation and the release of LMW peptides. The rate of release of LMW peptides was not correlated to the rate of N solubilisation for each of the protein sources evaluat

The projected global population growth by 2050 will require an increase in the production of high-quality food. Insects represent a promising alternative ingredient for feed with a lower environmental impact than conventional livestock such as poultry, swine and bovine species. In a context of commercial-scale production and considering the great diversity of insects, it is crucial to optimize the processing steps, including those used to kill insects. In addition to being able to maximize the nutritional and microbiological quality of the final product, insect killing methods should be rapid and effective. This project aims to optimize killing methods, i.e., blanching, desiccation, freezing (−20 °C; −40 °C; liquid nitrogen), high hydrostatic pressure, grinding and asphyxiation (CO2; N2; vacuum conditioning), and to evaluate their impact on the composition, lipid oxidation, colour and microbiological quality on the black soldier fly larvae. Blanching appears to be the most appropriate strategy since it is a rapid and effective killing method reducing larval moisture while minimizing lipid oxidation, microbial contamination and colour alteration. Ultimately, this work will help to establish a standardized protocol that meets the Canadian regulatory quality requirements for feed. Abstract : Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae represent a promising alternative ingredient for animal feed. Post-production processing can, however, affect their quality. This project aimed to optimize larval killing by comparing the effects on the nutritional and microbiological quality of 10 methods, i.e., blanching (B = 40 s), desiccation (D = 60 °C, 30 min), freezing (F20 = −20 °C, 1 h; F40 = −40 °C, 1 h; N = liquid nitrogen, 40 s), high hydrostatic pressure (HHP = 3 min, 600 MPa), grinding (G = 2 min) and asphyxiation (CO2 = 120 h; N2 = 144 h; vacuum conditioning, V = 120 h). Some methods affected the pH (B, asphyxiation), total moisture (B, asphyxiation and D) and ash contents (B, p < 0.001

The projected global population growth by 2050 will require an increase in the production of high-quality food. Insects represent a promising alternative ingredient for feed with a lower environmental impact than conventional livestock such as poultry, swine and bovine species. In a context of commercial-scale production and considering the great diversity of insects, it is crucial to optimize the processing steps, including those used to kill insects. In addition to being able to maximize the nutritional and microbiological quality of the final product, insect killing methods should be rapid and effective. This project aims to optimize killing methods, i.e., blanching, desiccation, freezing (−20 °C; −40 °C; liquid nitrogen), high hydrostatic pressure, grinding and asphyxiation (CO2; N2; vacuum conditioning), and to evaluate their impact on the composition, lipid oxidation, colour and microbiological quality on the black soldier fly larvae. Blanching appears to be the most appropriate strategy since it is a rapid and effective killing method reducing larval moisture while minimizing lipid oxidation, microbial contamination and colour alteration. Ultimately, this work will help to establish a standardized protocol that meets the Canadian regulatory quality requirements for feed. Abstract : Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae represent a promising alternative ingredient for animal feed. Post-production processing can, however, affect their quality. This project aimed to optimize larval killing by comparing the effects on the nutritional and microbiological quality of 10 methods, i.e., blanching (B = 40 s), desiccation (D = 60 °C, 30 min), freezing (F20 = −20 °C, 1 h; F40 = −40 °C, 1 h; N = liquid nitrogen, 40 s), high hydrostatic pressure (HHP = 3 min, 600 MPa), grinding (G = 2 min) and asphyxiation (CO2 = 120 h; N2 = 144 h; vacuum conditioning, V = 120 h). Some methods affected the pH (B, asphyxiation), total moisture (B, asphyxiation and D) and ash contents (B, p < 0.001

In current feed evaluation systems, the nutritional value of protein sources in diets for pigs is based on the ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids, which does not account for the kinetics of protein digestion along the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of the present study was to determine the in vitro protein digestion kinetics of different protein sources (soya bean meal (SBM), wheat gluten (WG), rapeseed meal (RSM), whey powder (WP), dried porcine plasma protein, yellow meal worm larvae and black soldier fly larvae (BSF)). Protein sources were incubated with pepsin at pH 3.5 for 0 to 90 min and subsequently with pancreatin at pH 6.8 for 0 to 210 min at 39°C. The in vitro protein digestion kinetics were described as the kinetics of nitrogen (N) solubilisation and the release of low molecular weight peptides (LMW) (<500 Da). The N solubilisation rate ranged from 0.025 min-1 for BSF to 0.685 min-1 for WP during the incubation with pepsin, and from 0.027 min-1 for RSM to 0.343 min-1 for WP during the incubation with pancreatin. The release rate of LMW peptides ranged from 0.027 min-1 for WG to 0.093 min-1 for WP during the incubation with pepsin, and from 0.029 min-1 for SBM to 0.385 min-1 for WP. Black soldier fly larvae showed a similar release rate of LMW peptides as WP during the incubation with pancreatin. At the end of the sequential incubation with pepsin (90 min) and pancreatin (210 min), WG and WP showed the highest percentage of N present in LMW peptides relative to total N (78% and 79%, respectively), whereas SBM showed the lowest (35%). In conclusion, protein sources for pig diets show substantial differences in in vitro protein digestion kinetics as measured by the kinetics of N solubilisation and the release of LMW peptides. The rate of release of LMW peptides was not correlated to the rate of N solubilisation for each of the protein sources evaluated.

The production of food is an intensive source of environmental impact. In aquaculture, one source of impact is solid waste, which contains high concentrations of minerals, other nutrients, and metals. The larvae of Hermetia illucens are capable of consuming this material, but applying technology that is based on these larvae for managing waste streams, like those from aquaculture, requires careful examination of safety risks. A study is performed examining the growth performance of larvae that were fed on solid aquaculture waste. Subsequently, a thorough analysis of safety risks from inorganics, with detailed the results on microelements that have previously received little attention in the literature, is performed to serve as a guideline for how to assess the safety of waste streams such as these. Findings confirm existing results in the literature that Cd is bioaccumulative, but also that other elements, including Hg, Mn, and especially K, are bioaccumulative. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research where the accumulation of Ag is also tested. The results of these tests are explained within the context of regulations in various countries where Hermetia illucens is cultivated, serving as a reference for practitioners to rigorously screen out high risk feed streams that they may consider using as feed sources. It is intended that these references and the demonstrated accumulation of a range of elements motivate comprehensive industry safety practices when evaluating new feed sources.

BackgroundThe increasing production of almonds worldwide has resulted in the significant generation of byproduct streams that require end uses. One potential use for byproducts is for cultivation of additional food sources including insects. Studies were performed to determine if black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) could be cultivated on almond byproducts (hulls and shells) and to examine the effect of aeration and moisture on larvae growth and hull composition.ResultsIncreasing aeration from 0.04 to 0.36 mL min-1 g dry weight-1 tripled the harvest weight of larvae and increased larvae yield by a factor of five. Larvae calcium content increased by 18% with an increase in aeration from 0.04 to 0.95 mL min-1 g dry weight-1 . Moisture content also affected harvest dry weight and yield; increasing moisture content from 480 g kg-1 (wet basis) to 680 g kg-1 increased harvest weight by 56% and yield by a factor of 2. Variables did not affect larvae methionine and cysteine content. Low moisture content and aeration rate yielded an environment that supported microbial consumption of hulls over larvae consumption and growth.ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that almond hulls are a suitable feedstock for larvae production under controlled management of moisture content and aeration. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

BackgroundThe increasing production of almonds worldwide has resulted in the significant generation of byproduct streams that require end uses. One potential use for byproducts is for cultivation of additional food sources including insects. Studies were performed to determine if black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) could be cultivated on almond byproducts (hulls and shells) and to examine the effect of aeration and moisture on larvae growth and hull composition.ResultsIncreasing aeration from 0.04 to 0.36 mL min-1 g dry weight-1 tripled the harvest weight of larvae and increased larvae yield by a factor of five. Larvae calcium content increased by 18% with an increase in aeration from 0.04 to 0.95 mL min-1 g dry weight-1 . Moisture content also affected harvest dry weight and yield; increasing moisture content from 480 g kg-1 (wet basis) to 680 g kg-1 increased harvest weight by 56% and yield by a factor of 2. Variables did not affect larvae methionine and cysteine content. Low moisture content and aeration rate yielded an environment that supported microbial consumption of hulls over larvae consumption and growth.ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that almond hulls are a suitable feedstock for larvae production under controlled management of moisture content and aeration. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.