Current Projects

Meghan Barrett, Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Artisan Spirit Magazine, Spring 2025, pp. 75-77.

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Keywords: Waste Management, Spent Grain, Brewery, Distillery, Consumer Demand, Waste, Fertilizer, Composting, Innovation, Black Soldier Fly, BSF, Organic Waste, Larvae

Abstract: The increasing consumer demand for craft beverages has led to significant volumes of spent grain as a byproduct of brewing and distilling processes. This article highlights the challenges and costs associated with traditional spent grain management strategies. Recognizing the need for innovative solutions, the piece introduces the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) as a promising organic waste management option. BSF larvae are efficient consumers of spent grain, converting its nutrients into valuable biomass. This article explores the characteristics of BSF and their potential to transform a significant waste stream into a resource, offering a sustainable and potentially profitable alternative for the brewing and distilling industries.

Bukchin-Peles S, Baker Lozneva K, Tomberlin JK, Zilberman D, Future Foods 11: 100592. (2025)

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Keywords: Black soldier fly, Bioeconomy, Circular economy, Supply chain, Policy

Abstract: The Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, represents a sustainable source of protein by converting organic waste into valuable products. BSF production requires minimal resources compared to traditional livestock and generates significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions (about 0.017 kg CO₂-eq per kg protein versus 57–500 kg CO₂-eq per kg protein for livestock). Diverting 1 % of global food waste to BSF production could yield an estimated 332,000 metric tonnes of protein annually and 1 million metric tonnes of organic fertilizer. This paper explores the economic, environmental, and operational dimensions of BSF production, focusing on supply chain strategies that optimize scalability and sustainability. Analyzing configurations such as vertical integration, distributed systems, and nucleus-plasma models, it identifies critical factors shaping supply chain design and environmental impacts. The findings emphasize the importance of supportive regulations, continued research investment, and strategic supply chain development.

Megido, R.C., et al. Entomologia Generalis, 44(1), pp.3-27. (2024)

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Keywords: entomophagy, insect food, insect industry, insect farming, insect marketing

Abstract: There has been continuous and growing interest in edible insects. Worldwide, various levels of insect farming are emerging, ranging from small domestic farms to vertical farms reaching heights of 36 meters, accommodating several million growing insects. The appeal of insects lies in their ecological benefits, as they contribute to the valorization of underutilized organic residues while requiring minimal space and water. The selection of insect species is influenced not only by their biology and behavior but also by local preferences and customs, varying with the scale of production and geographical location. This review article aims to provide an updated overview of the main insect species produced across different continents, their current level of industrialization, and production prospects based on available literature.

MDPI research article by Hunter K Walt et al. (2024)

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Keywords: virome; Sigmavirus; Totivirus; Hermetia illucens; virus Surveillance

Abstract: The mass rearing of animals in close quarters can be highly conducive to microbe transmission, including pathogens. This has been shown multiple times in the case of important industrial insects such as crickets, silkworms, and honeybees. One industrial insect of increasing importance is the black soldier fly (Diptera: Hermetia illucens), as it can convert organic waste into high-quality protein and fatty acids. Along with this, they take up far less space than traditional protein sources, as millions of black soldier flies can be reared in a relatively small facility. Because of this, there is a growing interest in the pathogens that could impact black soldier fly-rearing efforts. So far, only three black soldier fly-associated viruses have been identified. We used metatranscriptomic sequencing to survey black soldier fly guts, frass, and diet for viruses. We detected sequences from two novel viruses. One, which we name Hermetia illucens sigma-like virus 1, is phylogenetically related to viruses of the genus Sigmavirus, which have been highly studied in Drosophila. The other novel virus, which we name Hermetia illucens inse-like virus 1, is the second double-stranded RNA virus of the order Ghabrivirales described in the black soldier fly, and groups within a new family of insect viruses called the Inseviridae. We also detected two black soldier fly-associated viruses previously identified by our group: BSF nairo-like virus 1 and BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. Consistent with our previous study, these two viruses are found primarily in frass samples and occur together more often than expected at random. When analyzing host transcription, we found significant differences in gene expression for eight candidate antiviral genes in the black soldier fly when comparing samples with and without viral sequences. Our results suggest that black soldier fly–virus interactions are ongoing, and they could be of interest to black soldier fly producers

Journal of Economic Entomology research article by Delbert M. Gatlin et al. (2024)

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Keywords: bioeconomy, circular economy, sustainability

Abstract: The current study evaluated the potential enhancement of lauric acid (LA) in black soldier fy, Hermetia illucens, (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae (BSFL), a source of this short-chain fatty acid which has antimicrobial and immunostimulatory properties. Replicate groups of BSFL were reared on either the coconut or Gainesville diet for 7 days. After the rearing period, BSFL were harvested, purged, dried, and subjected to proximate, fatty acid and amino acid compositions, and pepsin digestibility analyses. Results demonstrate changes in proximate composition. BSFL reared on the coconut had signifcantly (P = 0.002) higher lipid content (47.3% vs. 25.2%) on a dry-matter basis. The LA concentration in BSFL produced on the coconut was 31% greater than those reared on Gainesville, resulting in almost 150% more LA. Furthermore, BSFL-fed coconut had reduced crude protein (29.7% of dry weight) and ash (3.7% of dry weight) relative to those fed Gainesville (43.4% and 7.5% for crude protein and ash, respectively) but higher pepsin digestibility (91.0% vs. 87.0%). The relative amounts of various amino acids in the 2 BSFL meals did not differ extensively, with statistically lower concentrations of only phenylalanine and tryptophan and higher concentrations of alanine, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, and serine in BSFL reared on coconut. Results demonstrate that the nutritional composition of BSFL can be manipulated, and an enhancement of LA concentrations of 150% was achieved with coconut, which has value for BSFL as a feed for various livestock, including aquaculture. Lower protein content is a tradeoff in terms of BSFL value as a feed additive

Tomberlin, J.K., et al. Animal Frontiers 13: 64-71. (2023)

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Keywords: Black Soldier Fly, BSF, BSFL, Food Waste, Waste Management, Sustainable Agriculture, Insect Protein, Animal Feed, Circular Economy, Organic Waste, Hermetia illucens, Frass (insect digestate), Soil Amendment, Essential Amino Acids, EAAs, Circular economy and insect farming, Research on optimizing black soldier fly production

Abstract: The growth of the global human population mandates expansion of the agricultural sector to meet food demands. Paradoxically, food waste is detrimentally impacting our land, air, and water.

The insects as food and feed sector can bridge these two concerns by recycling organic wastes to produce ingredients for feeding people, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and pets. The black soldier fly is a key species mass produced for feed and possibly food. This species is globally distributed, not a pest, and can recycle a broad range of organic residues while producing insect biomass (i.e., larvae) that is approved for use globally as a feed ingredient.

Currently, there are facilities that can digest 100 tons of organic waste with the black soldier fly daily. However, predicting output from such processes is challenging for numerous reasons. A key limitation of the system is the proper management of diverse wastes.

Due to the nutritional complexities of food waste, predicting conversion rates of waste to insect biomass is challenging. In many instances, the ability of the insect to do so could be hampered due to limited nutrients such as nutritionally essential amino acids (EAAs). Determining the impact of EAAs on the life-history traits of the black soldier fly, or any other insect mass produced for such purposes, is critical for optimizing the industry.

Walt, H.K., et al. Viruses. 2023 Jul 29;15(8):1654.

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Keywords: Bunyavirus; Hermetia illucens; bioinformatic surveillance; black soldier fly; high-throughput sequencing; novel virus; viromics

Abstract: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) has emerged as an industrial insect of high promise because of its ability to convert organic waste into nutritious feedstock, making it an environmentally sustainable alternative protein source. As global interest rises, rearing efforts have also been upscaled, which is highly conducive to pathogen transmission. Viral epidemics have stifled mass-rearing efforts of other insects of economic importance, such as crickets, silkworms, and honeybees, but little is known about the viruses that associate with BSF. Although BSFs are thought to be unusually resistant to pathogens because of their expansive antimicrobial gene repertoire, surveillance techniques could be useful in identifying emerging pathogens and common BSF microbes. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing data to survey BSF larvae and frass samples, and we identified two novel bunyavirus-like sequences. Our phylogenetic analysis grouped one in the family Nairoviridae and the other with two unclassified bunyaviruses. We describe these putative novel viruses as BSF Nairovirus-like 1 and BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. We identified candidate segments for the full BSF Nairovirus-like 1 genome using a technique based on transcript co-occurrence and only a partial genome for BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. These results emphasize the value of routine BSF colony surveillance and add to the number of viruses associated with BSF.

Tomberlin, J. K., et al. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 8.2 (2022): 109-111.

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Keywords: Insect Farming, Insect Food, Insect Feed, Sustainable Agriculture, Protein Demand, Circular Economy, Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC), Center for Environmental Sustainability through Insect Farming (CEIF), National Science Foundation (NSF), Sustainable insect farming for animal feed, Challenges and opportunities in the insect food industry, Creating a circular economy through insect agriculture