Black soldier fly larvae should be considered beyond their use as feedstuff

Abstract

In recent years the entomological landscape has witnessed substantial progress in the promotion of insects for food and feed purposes. In particular, the black soldier fly (BSF) sector is experiencing an unprecedented expansion and is attracting growing attention from both researchers and entrepreneurs. Despite the well-established supply chain based on the valorisation of waste and by-products by BSF larvae for producing feedstuff, the BSF industry is considering alternative challenging substrates for rearing the larvae and exploring novel applications of bioactive molecules from BSF beyond animal feed. This editorial challenges the conventional boundaries of the insects for food and feed sector, and delves into the innovative use of BSF proteins, lipids, and chitin, pointing out diverse opportunities across the biomedical, biotechnological, agricultural, zootechnical, and environmental sectors that could further propel the utilisation of this insect.