Soldier Fly

larger quantities are necessary for better economies of scale.

He adds that right now, they are working together with INSEACT to roll out shrimp feed with insect meal inclusion to customers in the region. And, the farm trials show that there are indeed benefits to using BSF meal in shrimp feed, including better FCRs, growth rate, and survivability.

How to Produce BSF Larvae Meal

The production of BSF larvae at Bio Cycle typically involves creating a carefully controlled environment that promotes their breeding and growth. “In our rearing setup, we use specialized crates. These crates provide an ideal space for larvae to thrive, allowing us to maintain optimal conditions for their development for the larvae. [Then] we feed them with Palm Kernel Meal (PKM) and provide them with water on a daily basis,” Budi explained. The methods that Bio Cycle use are specifically done to provide an optimal breeding condition which results in a high­density setup and good­quality egg production each day. “We are proud to hold certification in HACCP, ISO 22000, and FDA, which demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality,” he claimed.

The life cycle of BSF consists of four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The life cycle begins with the female BSF laying eggs. Once the eggs hatch, BSF larvae emerge and are fed PKM during this stage. When the larvae reach their maximum size, they enter the pupal stage. During this phase, the larvae undergo metamorphosis inside a cocoon-like structure, and they are generally inactive and cannot consume any food at this phase. After the pupal stage, the adult BSF emerges and does not consume any food either. Instead, their primary focus is reproduction and finding suitable sites for egg­laying. “We utilize the larval stage for BSF meal production, specifically targeting larvae that are approximately 15 days old. At that age, larvae are at their peak in terms of protein and fat content, making them highly suitable for producing high­quality BSF meal,” Budi claimed.

Challenges

Budi acknowledges that, even though BSF has big potential, developing it also comes with its own challenges. One of the biggest hurdles that he faces is the lack of established industry standards and guidelines for BSF production. Unlike traditional industries, the insect farming sector is still relatively new and evolving. “Therefore, we must develop our own standard operational production methods through continuous learning and experimentation,“ he said.

Whereas according to Ho Gim Chong, the challenge for the feed mill industry to use more BSF Larvae meal in their formulation is price competitiveness and availability in large quantities. Budi also supports this claim, saying that introducing BSF Larvae meal into feed mill formulation poses certain challenges, primarily due to the unique characteristics and considerations associated with adopting a new ingredient in large-scale production.

Thus, Budi believes that there are a couple of ways that can be done to make BSF Meal more mainstream as a feed ingredient. First, Education and awareness campaigns are crucial. Efforts should be made to educate feed producers, nutritionists, and industry stakeholders about BSF Meal’s sustainability benefits, nutritional composition, and performance advantages. Secondly, collaborating with regulatory authorities to establish clear guidelines and standards for producing, processing, and using BSF Meal as a feed ingredient can provide the framework for its widespread acceptance. “It is crucial to ensure that safety, quality, and labeling requirements are met to assure feed producers and end-users of the reliability and compliance of BSF Meal,” he said.