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Bio-waste treatment is a threat to large cities. However, technological evolution has made it possible to advance in a solution based on a circular economy system thanks to a protagonist contributed by nature: the black soldier fly larvae.
Hermetia illucens (scientific name given to these flies) have been studied by scientists due to their ability to devour organic bio-waste and the subsequent use of their larvae for a multitude of industrial applications.
One of these researchers has been Diego Amores, CEO of the Cehegín Entomo Agroindustrial company, a benchmark start-up in Spain in the breeding of these insects; that has developed a business model that is already successful abroad.
The larvae come into action, eating organic substrates in a matter of days, exponentially speeding up treatment times. The potential food of these animals is varied, ranging from vegetable by-product, to manure, the organic fraction of urban waste and supermarket waste.
Entomo Agoindustrial carries out a detailed study for each of its clients to determine the best way to cover this bio-waste treatment, since it will vary depending on the type of waste they are. The objective pursued by the Murcian firm is for each company to transform its bio-waste ‘in situ’. In other words, the client himself takes charge of the management of his bio-waste.
From bio-waste to high added value raw materials
With this action, the first phase of the circular cycle is executed as a result of the action of the black soldier flies. The next step is to take advantage of these insects once they are already fed as bio converters. The possibilities are enormous.
One of its main uses comes from the proteins that can be extracted from the larvae, since they are used for the composition of different foods; A quality that is already being used for animal feed for nutritional purposes after a European Directive approved its use a few weeks ago.
However, it takes advantage of all the about 27 millimeters in length that the black soldier fly larvae can measure and this means that they can also generate benefits to sectors such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics thanks to their fats, or, among others many, for the generation of biodegradable plastics, as well as as substrates for fertilizers.
The black soldier fly market has a significant presence in Southeast Asia and gradually penetrates into European countries, where it will soon establish itself as the future of waste treatment, according to company sources.