Effects of rearing system and microbial inoculation on black soldier fly larvae growth and microbiota when reared on agri-food by-products

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are widely used in recycling and upcycling of nutrients agri-food by-products, but low inconsistent BSFL rearing performance (i.e. larval growth, bioconversion rate, substrate reduction) has been identified as a key challenge. The aims this research were two-fold: (1) validate an existing closed system design; (2) assess whether microbial inoculum derived from the residue increases performance. In controlled bench-scale experiments, reared on tomato pomace (TP) white wine (WWP), along with food waste control substrate. two assessed based following response variables: mass, reduction, properties pH, temperature, moisture content), intestinal microbiota. Higher mass (by 5.1 mg dry mass) at harvest WWP reduction TP 11.7% compared to open confirmed potential systems for improvements by-products. also affected residual content only had small effect Performance by design may be outweighed insufficient aeration pasty substrates higher operational efforts separation high-moisture residues. contrast design, addition residue-derived did not result improved performance, nor it alter Missing could have due absent or numbers probiotic bacteria. success supplementation studying effects larval-associated microbes developing cultivation methods that selectively amplify beneficial (yet unknown) members community. Our investigations aimed increase valorisation low-value by-products rearing.