The agriculture industry produces large volumes of waste, including organic waste, manures, bedding, carcasses and other waste materials. The management of these wastes is time-consuming and expensive. 

Poor waste management practices in the past have contributed to odour issues, stable fly outbreaks, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient leaching into waterways, resulting in more stringent regulations on livestock manure disposal and a significant increase in cost of manure management to waste producers.

This project explores the use of Black Soldier Flies (BSF) as a means to turn livestock wastes into useful products.  The overall objective is to develop high quality soil conditioners and fertilisers from manures and other wastes. BSF farming is an emerging, innovative, and low-cost waste management technology that offers the potential to convert organic livestock wastes into useful end products. BSFs are a non-invasive, non-biting, non-pest fly species that do not eat. However, their larvae can be reared on a range of animal, cropping and abattoir waste. BSF larvae have a high waste degradation efficiency (50% reduction in 24 hours) and can reduce the volume of waste by up to 79% depending on the type and composition of the waste substrate. 

The castings, or frass, of BSF larvae are rich in trace elements, organic carbon, macro- and micro-nutrients, making them an excellent candidate for fertilisers/soil improvers. BSF larvae themselves are fat and protein–rich and could serve as animal feed for aquaculture and other industries.

Using BSF technology to convert livestock wastes into beneficial end products will not only allow Australia’s livestock industries to “close the loop” on their organic wastes and reduce the associated biosecurity and environmental risks, but will also contribute significantly to improving the sustainability of Australian agriculture.