Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Maggot Farming: Waste-Based Nutritional Innovation and Sustainable Agribusiness Potential

Budidaya Magot Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens): Inovasi Nutrisi Berbasis Limbah dan Potensi Agribisnis Berkelanjutan

Abstract

The Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, has emerged as a promising biological solution for addressing global challenges related to sustainable animal nutrition and organic waste management. BSF larvae exhibit a remarkable ability to convert various organic wastes—including kitchen scraps, agricultural residues, and livestock manure—into nutrient-rich biomass that can serve as an alternative feed source for poultry, fish, and other livestock. With protein content ranging from 35–45% and fat levels up to 30%, BSF larvae offer a competitive nutritional profile compared to conventional feed ingredients like fishmeal and soybean meal. Moreover, BSF farming contributes significantly to waste volume reduction and produces residue suitable for organic fertilizer.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of current scientific literature on BSF’s life cycle, optimal feeding substrates, nutritional composition, and integrated agribusiness models. The study highlights the potential of BSF farming as a circular economy innovation that not only enhances food security but also promotes environmental sustainability. Furthermore, BSF rearing can be implemented across various scales—from household-level setups to large-scale commercial operations—offering economic opportunities for communities, entrepreneurs, and the feed industry. The findings are based on a structured literature review of 15 recent peer-reviewed national and international journals that focus on BSF utilization for sustainable feed and waste management systems.