Maggot farming is the act of growing
maggot
A maggot is the larva of a fly (order Diptera); it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachycera flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and crane flies.
...
s for industry. It is distinct from
vermicompost
Vermicompost (vermi-compost) is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and ...
ing, as there is no separate composting process occurring and maggots are used to consume flesh, rather than
earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. Th ...
s to consume plant-based materials.
Species used
A variety of species can be used, including the
black soldier fly
''Hermetia illucens'', the black soldier fly, is a common and widespread fly of the family Stratiomyidae.
Distribution
This species is native to the Neotropical realm, but in recent decades has spread across all continents, becoming virtually ...
. Due to convenience, fly species are often used which are indigenous to the area of cultivation.
Method of cultivation
When using indigenous fly species, one tactic (employed by the Songhai Center in Benin) is to simply dump
offal
Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the organs of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but usually excludes muscle. Offal may also refe ...
or
meat that has exceeded the sell-by date in concrete bins. The bins are then covered with
chicken wire
Chicken wire, or poultry netting, is a mesh of wire commonly used to fence in fowl, such as chickens, in a run or coop. It is made of thin, flexible, galvanized steel wire with hexagonal gaps. Available in 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) diameter, ...
to prevent any large animals from feeding. Then, flies deposit eggs on the offal and meat, and maggots hatch and consume it. After that, the bins are filled with water, so the maggots start to float (separating themselves from any leftovers). The maggots are then harvested and the leftover is discarded or further processed (e.g., bones can be ground to
bone meal
Bone meal is a mixture of finely and coarsely ground animal bones and slaughter-house waste products. It is used as a dietary supplement to supply calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) to monogastric livestock in the form of hydroxiapathite. As a slow-r ...
). An alternative method can be seen used more commonly in small scale applications, such as two trash bins stacked on top of each other. The bottom bin having a large hole cut on top, while the top having smaller, filtered holes on the bottom. Food (waste) is then inserted and left into the top bin, where the flies will lay their eggs and produce maggots, shifting and separating into the bottom bin.
Use of the maggots
The maggots are often sold and used
as animal feed: in particular, for
fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...
, chickens,
pigs
The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus s ...
, and ducks.
AgriProtein, a British company specializing in insect protein production, is pushing for more international business, claiming to hold the potential to shift the fish feed market away from energy expensive fish farming.
They can also be sold as
fishing bait
Fishing bait is any substance used to attract and catch fish, e.g. on a fishing hook. Bait items are both selected from and placed within the environment to achieve enhanced prey capture success. Traditionally, fishing baits are natural fish food ...
. It is also possible to extract insect fat, protein (
for human consumption), and chitin. AgriProtein claims to produce over three thousand tons of fatty-acid oil as a byproduct and sixteen tons of frass, or fly droppings per plant, which can be used as a valuable fertilizer.
See also
*
AgriProtein
AgriProtein is a British agricultural and biotechnology company that uses insects to convert food waste into sustainable products including: an alternative protein for use in livestock and aquaculture feed, a natural oil for use in animal feed, an ...
*
Protix
Protix is a multinational manufacturer and supplier of insect ingredients for animal feed and for human consumption. The company operates the world's largest insect factory, located in Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands.
History
The company was ...
*
Shelf life
Shelf life is the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use, consumption, or sale. In other words, it might refer to whether a commodity should no longer be on a pantry shelf (unfit for use), or no longer on a ...
*
Biorefinery
A biorefinery is a refinery that converts biomass to energy and other beneficial byproducts (such as chemicals). The International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 42 defined biorefining as "the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of bio ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Case 101Case 2Songhai Center Benin
Insect farming
Waste
Food and the environment
Biodegradable waste management