Extreme close-up of a black soldier fly with iridescent eyes perched on a vibrant green leaf, revealing intricate anatomical details and contrasting textures
WHEN we think about flies, we are immediately reminded of pesky, irritating insects that are not only annoying, but dangerous as well, as they tend to favour rubbish bins, rotting items and faeces.
Flies, such as the common housefly, can carry as many as 200-known pathogens and parasites that can be harmful to humans, fanning diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, food poisoning, even tuberculosis.
However a species of flies called “black soldier flies” (BSF) is considered a non-pest as they do not carry diseases and do not infest human habitats. Taxonomists call them Hermetia illucens that originated in the Americas, although they are now found across tropical and temperate regions worldwide and are considered a valuable component in bioconversion. Its life cycle is approximately 45 days, with the larvae stage being the most valuable for bioconversion.
“In just seven days, BSF larvae can consume large volumes of organic waste, and convert them fully into protein and frass (organic fertiliser),” said Entomal Biotech chief commercial officer and co-founder Yanni Ching.
“What distinguishes them from houseflies is their role as ‘nature’s recyclers’—they feed only during the larval stage and adult flies do not eat, bite or transmit diseases, making them safe and sustainable to work with.”
Circular solution
In fact, according to an Eco-Business article published on May 10, 2023, many Asian countries were open to the possibilities of insect farming as a way of lowering food import dependency and increasing their overall GDP.
A good example of this is the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), which, on May 13 this year, issued a list of 16 insect species approved for human consumption, some of which include crickets, silkworm cocoons and grasshoppers, for local food consumption.
Eco-Business noted that Vietnam is another prime example of favourable regulations for insect farming with the government having established a legal framework to also support BSF farming.
These larvae have the ability to transform food and agricultural waste into high-value resources such as protein-rich animal feed and organic fertiliser.
A company in Singapore has been breeding BSFs through its food waste
bioconversion processes to produce nutritious animal feed for agricultural use and for pet food as well. The frass was used in producing fertilisers.
Similarly the United Nation’s specialised food agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was mentioned to view insects as a potentially sustainable food source, in a 2023 research paper entitled A review on edible insects in China: Nutritional supply, environmental benefits, and potential applications by Lin, Xueying, et al.
The paper mentioned that the FAO considered insects a major option to improve food security and ameliorate malnutrition in China, as noted by Hartmann et al’s (2015) research which Lin referenced. It also noted that insects were consumed in China for more than 2,000 years and that the insect farming industry has been established in rural areas of the country. This becomes a source of steady income for local people.
Ching said using ento-technology (insect-driven technology) directly supports a circular economy by closing the loop, as food waste is not discarded to landfills, but converted into inputs for the food chain.
“By reducing reliance on imported feed and chemical fertilisers through the larvae and frass, BSFs can contribute to Malaysia’s food security, while simultaneously reducing landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
She informed that the breeding technology and commercialising of BSF larvae have been in development for over two decades in several countries in Europe and the United States, with the ventures there showing strong success, with companies building scalable insect farms that supply animal feed, aquaculture and pet food industries.
The adoption in those countries shows that BSF farming can reduce food waste, cut carbon emissions, and replace resource-intensive feed sources like fishmeal and soy. The flies are fed with post-consumption food waste sourced from hotels, schools, theme parks, food courts and universities, with plans to include supermarkets and shopping malls in the future.
Varied uses
The bioconversion process generates two key products: The larvae themselves, which are rich in protein and fat; and frass, which is the nutrient-rich excretion.
The larvae have multiple uses. In their natural form, they are commonly seen in pet shops as feed for small animals like hamsters, reptiles and sugar gliders. Beyond that, they can be processed into animal feed for poultry, aquaculture (fish, shrimp, and crabs), and even for cats and dogs. In some regions, researchers are also exploring their use in human food products, given their nutritional value.
Additionally, oil extracted from the larvae contains antimicrobial peptides, which have shown strong potential in reducing infection risks and promoting wound healing. This opens up promising applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.
Frass, on the other hand, has proven to be a valuable soil enhancer and organic fertiliser. In Malaysia, it has been particularly well received in agriculture, especially for palm oil and durian plantations, due to its ability to improve soil health and crop yields.
Local challenges
Initially started as an engineering consulting firm, Entomal first supported both local and international BSF companies in solving technological challenges. It soon developed and patented several innovations that enhanced the breeding and mating rates of black soldier flies, while improving the overall efficiency of its processes.
On the regulatory front, the company is the local pioneer in applying BSFs on a large scale for post-consumption food waste management.
“One of the biggest challenges was that Malaysia historically did not have strong systems in place for food waste segregation, which made it difficult to ensure a consistent feedstock for the insects.
“In recent years, the government has made commendable progress by pushing for greener policies under the National Circular Economy Blueprint, more public listed companies have also started to implement hands-on greener solutions on the ground under their ESG initiatives, which supports businesses like ours in scaling sustainable solutions,” said Ching.
