by Palvi Kaith, Sourav Chakrabarty and Shashank P. R.
A rising area of interest is the utilization of by-products obtained from insects in animal feed. Insects play a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystem balance by contributing to essential services such as food production, pollination, biological control, and organic matter recycling. As a major component of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems, insects facilitate nutrient recycling and promote overall ecosystem health. Since the beginning of agriculture, insects have been both friends as well as enemies of human beings. However, their ability to efficiently bio-convert organic waste into valuable products has positioned them as key players in circular economy concept.
The students' project embodies the concepts of circular economy, sustainability, and resource repurposing by providing a practical illustration of how using insect by-products, such as Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, can help address the environmental issues caused by conventional farming. Recently, two students from Gopala's Podar International School, Sidhanta B. Pruthvi and Praneeth Reddy D. R., made an innovative scientific contribution. Their project, entitled “Adwithiya Black Soldier Fly” earned them the “First Place” at CBSE National Science Exhibition for the academic year 2024-2025. This prestigious competition saw participation from 429 schools across India, with the theme “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”, which was showcased at Amity International School, Gurugram, Haryana (Sector 46). Their project featured an engaging and visually compelling presentation, including detailed charts, colourful models, and cardboard cutouts depicting the life cycle of BSF (Fig. 1). They effectively demonstrated how BSF larvae consume organic waste and convert it into valuable by-products such as high-protein animal feed and organic manure. The project also highlighted BSF’s diverse applications where both larvae and pupae of the BSF were shown to consist of a large number of nutritional elements and are widely used as a feed for livestock animals like poultry, fish, pigs, cattle, and their by-products enhance soil health. What set their project apart was its practical approach to address pressing environmental impact of conventional farming. The students inspired their peers to adopt innovative eco-friendly solutions. Beyond winning an award, their work highlighted the transformative potential of BSF farming as a revolutionary step towards environmental conservation. By harnessing the power of these incredible insects, we can move towards a greener, more sustainable future, one where waste is not discarded but repurposed into valuable resources. The success of Sidhanta and Praneeth underscores the fact that the younger generation is ready to take the charge in creating sustainable solutions for a better tomorrow.
Actually, the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is a wasp-mimicking species of fly, under family Stratiomyidae, and order Diptera. As a holometabolous insect, it undergoes four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. BSF larvae, equipped with robust mouthparts, efficiently break down decomposing organic matter, reducing foul odors and preventing houseflies and blowflies from breeding. Unlike many other fly species, BSF does not transmit diseases, making them environmentally safe. Their larvae are widely used in organic waste recycling, converting waste into high-quality protein and fat, which is valuable in animal feed production. Additionally, BSF compost, termed "black gold" by ICAR-NBAIR, is rich in N, P, K, and micronutrients, surpassing traditional manures such as farmyard manure and vermicompost. Beyond agriculture, BSF larvae contribute to industrial sustainability, producing grease as a substitute for palm oil in pharmaceuticals and serving as a renewable source for biodiesel production (Fig. 2). Their ability to optimize waste utilization while promoting a circular economy highlights their immense potential in sustainable development.
About the authors:
Palvi Kaith is a Project Intern (ANRF-CRG) the Division of Entomology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
Email: palvikaith706@gmail.com
Sourav Chakrabarty is a Ph.D. Scholar at the Division of Entomology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
Email: tublu0002@gmail.com
Shashank P. R. is a Senior Scientist (Entomology) at the Division of Entomology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. His field of specialization is insect taxonomy and invasive pests. He is the Founding Managing Editor of Indian Entomologist.
Email: spathour@gmail.com
Disclaimer: The contents, style, language, plagiarism, references, mention of any products if any, etc., are the sole responsibility of the authors.
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