Safety considerations before using black soldier fly larvae as animal feed in the Philippines

Insects are seen as an alternative feed source for livestock and poultry because of their high protein content. Among the thousands of insect species, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is the most widely used, with its larvae used as feed for chickens, pigs, and fish. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is used as a protein supplement due to its nutrient profile — 42% protein and 35% fat, with its protein quality being identical to soybean protein. Black soldier flies live most of their life as a larva for 18 days, before turning into a pupa for 14 days, and then into their adult form for only nine days. They reproduce in their last stage, producing eggs that need four days before hatching into larvae, thus repeating the cycle. The Department of Agriculture has launched initiatives regarding the use of BSFL. The Agricultural Training Institute partnered with Kahariam Farms of Lipa, Batangas in 2020 to establish the use of BSFL as feed for pigs in the country. The Region 2 ...