Researchers have found a sustainable and large-scale way to turn farm food waste into animal feed using black soldier fly larvae. The researchers found that the larvae grown on food waste with the new, novel bio-conversion unit provided a nutritious, high-quality protein source for livestock feed.
Source: DVM 360, October 13, 2025. Link. Unlike the common house fly, the black soldier fly is not known to carry disease, making this insect a better candidate as an insect food source than the common house fly.
INSIGHTS: Mealworms, the larvae of the darkling beetle and black soldier fly grubs, are the most common insects fed to chicken flocks <Link>. These are two different insects and they have different levels of nutrients depending on what they eat:
- Black soldier fly grubs contain roughly 40% protein, 28% fat, 10% fiber, and 3% calcium
- Mealworms contain about 50% protein, 25% fat, 7% fiber, and very little calcium.
Image: Link.