The role of black soldier fly (BSF) in sustainable broiler nutrition

Published: April 8, 2025

By: Marc Saad, Export Manager at Liptosa. He holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering, specializing in Animal Science and Technology, and a Master of Science in Animal Nutrition.

The role of black soldier fly (BSF) in sustainable broiler nutrition - Image 1

As the global population continues to grow, the demand for high-quality protein in animal nutrition is increasing. The broiler industry, as one of the largest and fastest-growing livestock sectors, faces significant challenges in securing sustainable and cost-effective feed ingredients. Conventional protein sources like soybean meal and fishmeal are subject to price volatility, environmental impact, and limited availability (FAO, 2009). The exploration of alternative protein sources has therefore become critical for ensuring long-term food security and sustainability in poultry production.

One of the most promising alternative protein sources in broiler nutrition today is the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). With its ability to efficiently convert organic waste into high-quality nutrients, BSF is emerging as a sustainable and nutritionally rich feed ingredient for poultry, offering a circular economy approach to feed production (Meneguz et al., 2018).

Nutritional benefits of Black Soldier Fly in broiler feed

High-Quality Protein Source

BSF larvae meal contains up to 56% DM crude protein, with a well-balanced amino acid profile comparable to conventional protein sources (INRAe, 2025). Essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and threonine, which are vital for broiler growth and muscle development, are present in significant amounts (INRAe feed tables). Many studies have shown that the BSF meal is an excellent source of energy and digestible AAs for broiler chickens (Schiavone etal., 2017).

Rich in beneficial fats

BSF larvae contain high levels of lauric acid (C12:0), a medium-chain fatty acid with antimicrobial properties known to support gut health and immune function in broilers. Additionally, BSF oil provides high digestibility and serves as an excellent energy source for poultry (Schiavone et al., 2018).

Improved growth performance

Several studies have demonstrated that incorporating BSF meal in broiler diets can maintain performance (Leiber et al., 2017; Onsongo et al., 2018). While others reported improved performance such as Dabbou et al., 2018 that found an increased final weight and feed intake during the starter period with up to 10% inclusion of BSF larva meal.

Impact on digestibility and meat quality

Broilers require highly digestible feed ingredients to maximize nutrient utilization. Studies indicate that BSF meal exhibits high amino acid digestibility (> 80%), making it a viable replacement for traditional protein sources. However, chitin content, a structural component in insect exoskeletons, may impact digestibility at high inclusion levels. Processing techniques such as enzymatic treatments and defatting can help mitigate this challenge. In the studies conducted by Onsongo et al. (2018) and Pieterse et al. (2019) the meat sensory profile (odor, flavor, aroma, texture, juiciness, and tenderness) was unaffected by BSF meal inclusion contrarily to Altmann et al. (2018) who reported a more intense flavor that decreased over storage time of the breast meat. Also, Pieterse et al. (2019) found that birds fed with BSF meal produced breast meat with a higher aroma and aftertaste, and more sustained juiciness values than those fed soybean meal and fishmeal-based diets.

Challenges and opportunities in large-scale adoption

Cost and scalability

While BSF meal is a promising ingredient, its production cost remains higher than soybean meal. Large-scale industrial production and genetic selection programs aimed at improving BSF growth rates and nutritional composition are essential for cost reduction.

Processing and formulation considerations

The chitin content in BSF larvae can influence digestibility, necessitating processing methods such as defatting, fermentation, or hydrolysis to optimize nutrient bioavailability. Feed manufacturers must refine formulation strategies to ensure the best balance between inclusion rates and performance.

Regulatory and consumer acceptance

The European Union has approved BSF as an animal feed ingredient, but global regulatory frameworks still need alignment for wider adoption (IPIFF, 2022). Additionally, educating feed producers and consumers on the safety, benefits, and sustainability of insect-derived proteins is crucial for market penetration.

Future perspectives in broiler nutrition

The increasing demand for sustainable feed ingredients positions BSF as a key player in the future of broiler nutrition. Current research is focused on:

Genetic selection programs to enhance BSF larvae protein and fat content and profiles.
AI-driven monitoring systems to optimize BSF farming and processing efficiency.
Standardising the substrate for BSFrearing to insure a constant production and nutritional value.
Scalability for industrial production and ensuring competitive pricing of BSF meal and fat.

As broiler production continues to expand, alternative protein sources like BSF meal will play a critical role in ensuring feed security, reducing environmental impact, and supporting the industry’s long-term sustainability goals. Ongoing advancements in processing technologies, production scalability, and feed formulation strategies will determine the extent of BSF adoption in commercial poultry production.

For further insights into the latest research and applications of BSF in broiler nutrition, recent studies continue to highlight its potential benefits, limitations, and future advancements in this evolving sector.

Altmann B.A., Neumann C., Velten, S., Liebert F., Mörlein D., (2018). Meat quality derived from high inclusion of a micro-alga or insect meal as an alternative protein source in poultry diets: A pilot study. Foods., 7, 34.

Dabbou S., Gai F., Biasato I., Capucchio M.T., Biasibetti E., Dezzutto D., Meneguz M., Plachà I., Gasco L., Schiavone A., (2018). Black soldier fly defatted meal as a dietary protein source for broiler chickens: Effects on growth performance, blood traits gut morphology and histological features. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol., 9, 49.

De Smet J., Wynants E., Cos P., Van Campenhout L., (2018). Microbial community dynamics during rearing of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) and impact on exploitation potential. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 84, 02722-17.

FAO, (2009). How to Feed the World in 2050.

INRAe, Feedtables. (https://www.feedtables.com/)

IPIFF, (2022). Guide on good hygiene practices for European Union (EU) producers of insects as food and feed. IPIFF online platform. (https://ipiff.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IPIFF-Guide-on-Good-Hygiene-Practices.pdf)

Leiber F., Gelencsér T., Stamer A., Amsler Z., Wohlfahrt J., Früh B., Maurer V., (2017). Insect and legume-based protein sources to replace soybean cake in an organic broiler diet: Effects on growth performance and physical meat quality. Renew. Agric. Food Syst., 32, 21-27.

Meneguz M., Schiavone A., Gai F., Dama A., Lussiana C., Renna M., Gasco L., (2018). Effect of rearing substrate on growth performance, waste reduction efficiency and chemical composition of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae. J. Sci. Food Agric., 98, 5776-5784.

Onsongo V.O., Osuga I.M., Gachuiri C.K., Wachira A.M., Miano D.M., Tanga C.M., Ekesi S., Nakimbugwe D., Fiaboe K.K.M. (2018). Insects for income generation through animal feed: Effect of dietary replacement of soybean and fish meal with black soldier fly meal on broiler growth and economic performance. J. Econ. Entomol., 11, 1966-1973.

Pieterse E., Erasmus S.W., Uushona T., Homan L.C. (2019). Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) pre-pupae meal as a dietary protein source for broiler production ensures a tasty chicken with standard meat quality for every pot. J. Sci. Food Agric., 99, 893-903.

Schiavone A., Cullere M., De Marco M., Meneguz M., Biasato I., Bergagna S., Dezzutto D., Gai F., Dabbou S., Gasco L., et al. (2017). Partial or total replacement of soybean oil by black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) fat in broiler diets: Effect on growth performance, feed-choice, blood traits, carcass characteristics and meat quality. Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 16, 93-100.

Schiavone A., Dabbou S., De Marco M., Cullere M., Biasato I., Biasibetti E., Capucchio M.T., Bergagna S., Dezzutto D., Meneguz M., et al. (2018). Black soldier fly larva fat inclusion in finisher broiler chicken diet as an alternative fat source. Animal, 12, 2032-2039.

Schiavone A., De Marco M., Martínez S., Dabbou S., Renna M., Madrid J., Hernandez F., Rotolo L., Costa P., Gai F., et al. (2017). Nutritional value of a partially defatted and a highly defatted black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) meal for broiler chickens: Apparent nutrient digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol., 8, 897-905.

Image

Microbial community dynamics during rearing of black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens ) and its impact on exploitation potential - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Life-cycle-of-H-illucens-The-different-stages-of-the-development-of-H-illucens-are_fig1_323367595 [accessed 7 Apr 2025]

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The role of black soldier fly (BSF) in sustainable broiler nutrition

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