Revolutionizing aquaculture feeds: insights into black soldier fly utilization

Abstract

The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional aquafeed proteins. This review integrates recent advances in BSF utilization across nutrition, processing, automation, and environmental systems. Key processing methods such as defatting, extrusion, and advanced drying are evaluated for their impact on nutrient retention, digestibility, and pellet quality. The role of smart infrastructure, including automation and real-time monitoring, is discussed as essential for scalable BSF farming. Environmental benefits are assessed through life cycle analyses and circular economy models, highlighting BSF’s capacity to valorise organic waste. Challenges such as substrate variability, production standardization, and waste management are addressed from both engineering and biological perspectives. Emerging strategies such as microbiome-informed feed design and system-specific optimization underscore the need for integrated approaches. This review positions BSF not only as a sustainable feed component but also as a driver of innovation at the intersection of aquaculture, biotechnology, and environmental engineering.