Insect Rearing for Processing Protein in Animal Feed

For centuries now, mankind has been known to benefit from insects. For example, the silkworm, larvae of the butterfly Bombyx mori, is used to produce silk fabric. This practice originated in China, but is a common tradition and economic practice in Western Africa. One major beneficial role of insects, specifically the larvae of some fly species, is their innate ability to convert rotting material into valuable protein for other members of the animal kingdom as feed. The enzymatic processes used to convert organic matter (dead bodies, plant material, feces, manure, catering waste, biological waste, etc.) into something valuable are amazing. Nature is a perfectly circular economy and does not know waste – something we should all aspire to – and a large portion of decomposition happening on the planet is due to insects.