Optimizing Circular Bio-Production through AI: Precision Farming of Black Soldier Flies for valuable biomolecules

Black soldier fly larvae are efficient upcyclers, converting waste into nutrient-rich biomass for livestock feed containing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), chitin, and fats. These compounds hold potential for applications in functional foods, immune-boosting supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Residues from BSF farming serve as a high-quality organic fertiliser. Despite its promise, BSF farming faces challenges in standardising larval growth and output quality due to the variability of feeding substrates. Thailand's abundant agricultural by-products (e.g., from rice, cassava, palm oil, and sugarcane) present a renewable resource for BSF feedstock. However, manually testing substrate combinations is labor-intensive and inefficient. Against this background, the FLY4FOOD project aims to optimize BSF rearing by developing data-driven methods to standardise production. The Öko-Institut carries out a life cycle assessment to guide the development of the new technology.