Concept
Hermetia illucens
Related concepts (4)
Maggot farming
Maggot farming is the act of growing maggots for industry. It is distinct from vermicomposting, as no separate composting process is occurring and maggots are used to consume flesh, rather than earthworms to consume plant-based materials. A variety of species can be used, including the black soldier fly. Due to convenience, fly species that are indigenous to the area of cultivation are often used. When using indigenous fly species, one tactic (employed by the Songhai Center in Benin) is to simply dump offal or meat that has exceeded the sell-by date in concrete bins.
Insects as feed
Insects as feed are insect species used as animal feed, either for livestock, including aquaculture, or as pet food. As livestock feed production uses ~33% of the world's agricultural cropland use, large-scale use of insects could be important in the development of a sustainable food system. They can transform low-value organic wastes, are nutritious and have low environmental impacts. Due to their nutritional profile, especially the high protein content, various types of insects can be used as feed for industrial animal production and aquaculture.
Food loss and waste
Food loss and waste is food that is not eaten. The causes of food waste or loss are numerous and occur throughout the food system, during production, processing, distribution, retail and food service sales, and consumption. Overall, about one-third of the world's food is thrown away. A 2021 meta-analysis that did not include food lost during production, by the United Nations Environment Programme found that food waste was a challenge in all countries at all levels of economic development.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture (less commonly spelled aquiculture), also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants (e.g. lotus). Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater, brackish water and saltwater populations under controlled or semi-natural conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish.