Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies
Biowaste management poses a significant and widespread challenge. However, its consideration as a resource has led to the emergence of innovative and sustainable biowaste management techniques. One such promising solution is the use of black soldier flies (BSF) in biowaste treatment. This technique...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIMS Press
2023-12-01
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| Series: | AIMS Environmental Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/environsci.2023047?viewType=HTML |
| _version_ | 1797366762620059648 |
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| author | Atinuke Chineme Getachew Assefa Irene M. Herremans Barry Wylant Marwa Shumo Aliceanna Shoo Mturi James Frida Ngalesoni Anthony Ndjovu Steve Mbuligwe Mike Yhedgo |
| author_facet | Atinuke Chineme Getachew Assefa Irene M. Herremans Barry Wylant Marwa Shumo Aliceanna Shoo Mturi James Frida Ngalesoni Anthony Ndjovu Steve Mbuligwe Mike Yhedgo |
| author_sort | Atinuke Chineme |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biowaste management poses a significant and widespread challenge. However, its consideration as a resource has led to the emergence of innovative and sustainable biowaste management techniques. One such promising solution is the use of black soldier flies (BSF) in biowaste treatment. This technique offers various advantages, such as the transformation of biowaste into versatile products that can be used in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, pharmaceuticals and energy production. Despite significant research on different aspects of the BSF biowaste treatment system, none have explored the application of circular economy principles in low-income settings using naturally occurring BSF, i.e., free-range BSF. This article addresses the gap utilizing a mixed-method approach through a case study to achieve two objectives: the localization of the circular economy through co-production with a community group and the viable production of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and compost to meet the community's needs. Through collaboration, a successful circular economy was established as biowaste was transformed into products and safely reintroduced into the local biosphere. Performance indices used included BSFL nutritional composition, harvest rates and heavy metal absence.
Through community involvement, circular economy principles were effectively implemented to redirect a retail market's fruit and vegetable waste from the landfill. The free-range open system produced 19.15 kg of BSFL, with 44.34% protein content, 20.6% crude fat and zero heavy metals. These outcomes align with existing research, indicating that a community-led open BSFL system can generate valuable products while fostering circular economy principles with minimal financial, technological, energy and water resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:09:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8403feeafba42e8927db9229e650870 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2372-0352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:09:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8403feeafba42e8927db9229e6508702024-01-04T03:01:37ZengAIMS PressAIMS Environmental Science2372-03522023-12-0110686889310.3934/environsci.2023047Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier fliesAtinuke Chineme 0Getachew Assefa1 Irene M. Herremans 2Barry Wylant3Marwa Shumo4Aliceanna Shoo5Mturi James6Frida Ngalesoni7Anthony Ndjovu8Steve Mbuligwe9Mike Yhedgo101. School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada1. School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada2. Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada1. School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada3. Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany4. AMREF Health Africa Tanzania4. AMREF Health Africa Tanzania4. AMREF Health Africa Tanzania4. AMREF Health Africa Tanzania5. School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania6. Environmental Resources Consultancy, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaBiowaste management poses a significant and widespread challenge. However, its consideration as a resource has led to the emergence of innovative and sustainable biowaste management techniques. One such promising solution is the use of black soldier flies (BSF) in biowaste treatment. This technique offers various advantages, such as the transformation of biowaste into versatile products that can be used in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, pharmaceuticals and energy production. Despite significant research on different aspects of the BSF biowaste treatment system, none have explored the application of circular economy principles in low-income settings using naturally occurring BSF, i.e., free-range BSF. This article addresses the gap utilizing a mixed-method approach through a case study to achieve two objectives: the localization of the circular economy through co-production with a community group and the viable production of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and compost to meet the community's needs. Through collaboration, a successful circular economy was established as biowaste was transformed into products and safely reintroduced into the local biosphere. Performance indices used included BSFL nutritional composition, harvest rates and heavy metal absence. Through community involvement, circular economy principles were effectively implemented to redirect a retail market's fruit and vegetable waste from the landfill. The free-range open system produced 19.15 kg of BSFL, with 44.34% protein content, 20.6% crude fat and zero heavy metals. These outcomes align with existing research, indicating that a community-led open BSFL system can generate valuable products while fostering circular economy principles with minimal financial, technological, energy and water resources.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/environsci.2023047?viewType=HTMLblack soldier flyfree-range bsfcircular economybiotechnologybioeconomybiowasteco-productioncommunity-basedtanzania |
| spellingShingle | Atinuke Chineme Getachew Assefa Irene M. Herremans Barry Wylant Marwa Shumo Aliceanna Shoo Mturi James Frida Ngalesoni Anthony Ndjovu Steve Mbuligwe Mike Yhedgo Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies AIMS Environmental Science black soldier fly free-range bsf circular economy biotechnology bioeconomy biowaste co-production community-based tanzania |
| title | Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies |
| title_full | Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies |
| title_fullStr | Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies |
| title_short | Advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies |
| title_sort | advancing circular economy principles through wild black soldier flies |
| topic | black soldier fly free-range bsf circular economy biotechnology bioeconomy biowaste co-production community-based tanzania |
| url | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/environsci.2023047?viewType=HTML |
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