Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Organic waste sources make an excellent feed substrate for the larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens. The larvae are able to reduce the waste material by 50-80% and convert up to 20% of the waste material into larval biomass within ±14 days. The grown larvae make an excellent protein source in animal feed and the frass residue is a valuable soli amendment. Sale of these products can contribute to lower waste treatment cost and potential income opportunities from organic waste.

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Practical knowhow on BSF-processing

SWIFT (Sustainable Waste-based Insect Farming Technologies): An applied research project with the overall objective to enable and foster adoption of waste-based Black Soldier Fly (BSF) insect farming technologies for smallholder farmers and small and medium enterprises with a specific focus on Uganda and Malawi.
FORWARD (From ORganic WAste to Recycling for Development): An applied research project in Indonesia that developed a manually operated BSF site and is now assisting public and private partners on setting up their sites
BIWAP (Boosting Insect Waste Processing): Focuses on several distinct processing units to enhance effectivity and efficiently, both connected closely to cost which again influences financial viability of the facility.
SIBRE (Sustainability of Insect-Based Recycling Enterprises): Developing knowledge and practical tools required for small & medium enterprises to assess economic perspectives of using BSF for valorizing organic waste.
PhD Moritz Gold, 2017-2020: explored decomposition by BSF larvae feedstock formulation for efficient animal feed production BSFL-microbial relationship to increase BSFL processing; and the effect of contaminated substrates on BSFL processing for safe animal feed production.
PhD Daniela Peguero, 2021-2023: explored physical and chemical pretreatment of substrates to enhance BSFL digestibility as well ensuring safety of dried BSFL.
Maja Schøn 2024-2027: explores the effect of physical properties of the substrate for efficient black soldier fly larvae processing of biowastes

I.E. Berggreen, M..L. Schøn, J.V. Nørgaard, K. Jensen (2025). Optimal dietary protein content and essential amino acid limitation in larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-bja10221

M Schow-Madsen, K Jensen, MM Toribio, ML Schøn, TM Schou, JV Nørgaard, Johannes Overgaard (2025). Consequences of dietary amino acid imbalance on growth and gas exchange in black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.05.674443

Gold, M., Lievens, S., Smet, J. D., Peguero, D. A., Planche, C., Whitshaw, C., … Der Borght, M. V. (2025). Micro- and nanoplastic size affects uptake and digestive tract region residence time in black soldier fly larvae during food waste bioconversion. Waste Management, 204, 114933 (9 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114933

Deruytter, D., Coudron, C., Wiklicky, V., El Deen, S. N., Van Peer, M., Rumbos, C., … Yakti, W. (2025). BugBook: considerations for designing and performing insect larvae production experiments. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-bja10252

Coudron, C. L., Adamaki-Sotiraki, C., Yakti, W., Pascual, J. J., Wiklicky, V., Sandrock, C., … Cambra-López, M. (2025). Bugbook: basic information and good practices on how to maintain stock populations for Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens for research. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 101632 (27 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-bja10240

Alciatore, G., Peguero, D. A., Gold, M., Zurbrügg, C., Niu, M., Bargetze, F., & Mathys, A. (2024). Preservation of agri-food byproducts by acidification and fermentation in black soldier fly larvae bioconversion. Waste Management, 186, 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.043

Peguero, D. A., Gold, M., Velasquez, L., Niu, M., Zurbrügg, C., & Mathys, A. (2024). Physical pretreatment of three biowastes to improve black soldier fly larvae bioconversion efficiency. Waste Management, 178, 280-291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2024.02.012

Peguero D. (2023). Pretreatments to improve black soldier fly larvae performance on fibrous biowastes and safeguarding insect-based food and feed. PhD Thesis, EHT-Zürich. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000642205

Peguero, D. A.; Gold, M.; Endara, A.; Niu, M.; Zurbrügg, C.; Mathys, A. (2023) Evaluation of ammonia pretreatment of four fibrous biowastes and its effect on black soldier fly larvae rearing performance, Waste Management, 160, 123-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.033

Grau, M. G. P.; Dortmans, B. M. A.; Egger, J.; Virard, G.; Zurbrügg, C. (2023) Modelling the financial viability of centralised and decentralised black soldier fly larvae waste processing units in Surabaya, Indonesia, Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 9(3), 303-316, https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2022.0012

Peguero, D. A., Gold, M., Duewell, T., Waser, A., Dubovcova, B., Vandeweyer, D., ... & Mathys, A. (2023). Low energy electron beam to support safe whole dried insect products. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 1(aop), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-20230124

Peguero, D. A.; Gold, M.; Vandeweyer, D.; Zurbrügg, C.; Mathys, A. (2022) A review of pretreatment methods to improve agri-food waste bioconversion by black soldier fly larvae, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 745894 (9 pp.), https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.745894

Isibika, A.; Vinnerås, B.; Kibazohi, O.; Zurbrügg, C.; Lalander, C. (2021) Co-composting of banana peel and orange peel waste with fish waste to improve conversion by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae, Journal of Cleaner Production, 318, 128570 (8 pp.), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128570

Gold, M. (2020). Towards more efficient biowaste utilization with black soldier fly larvae to produce more sustainable animal feed. PhD Thesis, ETH-Zürich. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000458647

Gold, M.; Cassar, C. M.; Zurbrügg, C.; Kreuzer, M.; Boulos, S.; Diener, S.; Mathys, A. (2020) Biowaste treatment with black soldier fly larvae: increasing performance through the formulation of biowastes based on protein and carbohydrates, Waste Management, 102, 319-329, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.10.036

Gold, M.; Binggeli, M.; Kurt, F.; de Wouters, T.; Reichlin, M.; Zurbrügg, C.; Mathys, A.; Kreuzer, M. (2020) Novel experimental methods for the investigation of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae, Journal of Insect Science, 20(3), 21 (9 pp.), https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaa057

Gold, M.; Egger, J.; Scheidegger, A.; Zurbrügg, C.; Bruno, D.; Bonelli, M.; Tettamanti, G.; Casartelli, M.; Schmitt, E.; Kerkaert, B.; De Smet, J.; Van Campenhout, L.; Mathys, A. (2020) Estimating black soldier fly larvae biowaste conversion performance by simulation of midgut digestion, Waste Management, 112, 40-51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.05.026

Gold, M.; von Allmen, F.; Zurbrügg, C.; Zhang, J.; Mathys, A. (2020) Identification of bacteria in two food waste black soldier fly larvae rearing residues, Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 582867 (19 pp.), https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.582867

Mertenat, A.; Diener, S.; Zurbrügg, C. (2019) Black Soldier Fly biowaste treatment – assessment of global warming potential, Waste Management, 84, 173-181, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.040

Isibika, A.; Vinnerås, B.; Kibazohi, O.; Zurbrügg, C.; Lalander, C. (2019) Pre-treatment of banana peel to improve composting by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae, Waste Management, 100, 151-160, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.09.017

Lalander, C.; Diener, S.; Zurbrügg, C.; Vinnerås, B. (2019) Effects of feedstock on larval development and process efficiency in waste treatment with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 211-219, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.017

Gold, M.; Tomberlin, J. K.; Diener, S.; Zurbrügg, C.; Mathys, A. (2018) Decomposition of biowaste macronutrients, microbes, and chemicals in black soldier fly larval treatment: a review, Waste Management, 82, 302-318, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.10.022

Diener, S.; Zurbrügg, C.; Tockner, K. (2015) Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens and effects on its life cycle, Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 1(4), 261-270, https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2015.0030

Lalander, C. H.; Fidjeland, J.; Diener, S.; Eriksson, S.; Vinnerås, B. (2014) High waste-to-biomass conversion and efficient Salmonella spp. reduction using black soldier fly for waste recycling, Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 35(1), 261-271, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-014-0235-4

Lalander, C.; Diener, S.; Magri, M. E.; Zurbrügg, C.; Lindström, A.; Vinnerås, B. (2013) Faecal sludge management with the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) — From a hygiene aspect, Science of the Total Environment, 458, 312-318, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.033