Feeding substrate for black soldier fly larvae

Description

/ 7 FOOD SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE Field of invention

[001] The present invention relates to the rearing of black soldier fly larvae, specifically to the substrate used as feed for such larvae and, more specifically, to the optimization of this substrate with a view to maximizing the yield in the rearing of these larvae with regard to their growth. Background of the invention

[002] The influence of the composition of the substrate used in feeding black soldier fly larvae has been the subject of numerous academic studies that aim to study the yield of rearing these larvae from various perspectives, such as protein content, lipid content, etc.

[003] A representative work of this research is described in the article by Nicola Francesco Addeo et al., entitled Different Combinations of Butchery and Vegetable Wastes on Growth Performance, Chemical-Nutritional Characteristics and Oxidative Status of Black Soldier Fly Growing Larvae, published in Animals 2021, 11 (12), 3515 and accessible via the internet at https: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / ani11123515

[004] In this work, the authors studied the influence of various compositions on the development of specific characteristics such as: weight, ash content, lipid content, etc. The compositions used in this work were based on plant-based material and butcher's waste, in various proportions. Petition 870250054747, dated 06 / 27 / 2025, page 7 / 8 / 7

[005] The plant material consisted of 75% vegetables (broccoli, celery, cabbage) and 25% fruits (orange, apple), collected from greengrocers in Naples, and the animal material was collected from butchers in that city. For control purposes, a substrate comprising broiler chicken feed was used; obviously, since this was a small-scale test, this feed was used, it being understood that, in industrial-scale production, such an input is contraindicated, given its relatively high cost compared to the other inputs used in feeding the larvae.

[006] Some of the most significant results of this study are illustrated in the graphs in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In these graphs, the bars identified with C correspond to the control; V100 bars correspond to the tests in which only plant-based material (“100% plant”) was used as input. The remaining bars correspond to substrates consisting of 75% plant material and 25% butcher's waste, and equal proportions of these two components, i.e., 50% plant and 50% butcher's waste.

[007] Fig. 1 reveals that the batch fed with an input composed of 75% vegetable matter and 25% slaughterhouse waste presented a higher total biomass than the others, including the control batch fed with "noble" material (chicken feed). This result is in agreement with Fig. 3, which shows that the average weight of the larvae in the batch fed with the 75 / 25 input is higher than the others.

[008] Considering that one objective of raising larvae is to obtain oil for subsequent conversion into biodiesel or Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, p. 27 / 33 / 7 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), it is of fundamental importance to verify the influence of diet on lipid content. Fig. 2 indicates that this content was substantially higher in larvae fed with substrate consisting of equal parts of plant matter and animal matter (butcher's scraps), this content being the minimum for the batch fed exclusively with plant matter, which indicates the importance of inputs of animal origin in the proportion of fat in the larvae.

[009] However, this higher content does not translate into greater overall efficiency, since the graph in Fig. 3 indicates that the larvae fed with the input consisting of equal parts of plant and animal matter have a substantially lower individual weight than the others.

[010] Thus, it is concluded that the best results, from the perspective of oil production, were obtained with a diet consisting of 75% vegetable and 25% animal.

[011] However, the availability of plant-based inputs from commercial establishments (greengrocers and supermarkets) is limited compared to the volumes of biodiesel that must be produced on an industrial scale.

[012] This limitation led to the search for other sources that could provide abundant quantities of plant material at a reduced cost. Objectives of the invention

[013] In view of the above condition, a primary objective of the invention is to provide a diet that maximizes lipid production in large volumes of larvae. Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 28 / 33 / 7 of black soldier fly.

[014] Another objective is to use low-cost materials as input for said diet.

[015] Yet another objective is to employ inputs whose supply is on an industrial scale, in order to make the production of biodiesel or SAF viable. Summary description of the invention

[016] The above objectives, as well as others, are achieved by the invention by means of a diet composed of plant-based and animal-based materials, wherein the plant-based materials comprise macrophytes.

[017] According to another feature of the invention, said macrophytes preferably comprise species considered to be pests, such as water hyacinths.

[018] According to another feature of the invention, the materials of animal origin comprise slaughterhouse waste rich in lipids. Description of the figures

[019] The invention will be better understood through the description of an exemplary embodiment and the figures that refer to it, in which:

[020] Figure 1 is a graph illustrating the influence of diet composition on the aggregate mass of black soldier fly larvae batches.

[021] Figure 2 is a graph illustrating the influence of diet composition on the amount of lipids stored in black soldier fly larvae. Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 29 / 33 / 7

[022] Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the influence of diet composition on development, i.e., on the average individual weight of black soldier fly larvae.

[023] Figure 4 illustrates the removal of water hyacinths by mechanical means from a reservoir intended to supply water for urban consumption. Detailed description

[024] The aquatic plants that cause the most problems in the country are macrophytes, which can often be considered pests due to their uncontrolled growth. Among the most common macrophytes in Brazil, the following species stand out: Eichhomia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia auriculata, Hydrilla verticillata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Limnobium laevigatum. In particular, the species Eichhomia crassipes, commonly known as water hyacinth, is one of the most abundant and damaging.

[025] Water hyacinth (Eichhomia crassipes) is a very vigorous species that doubles its area every 6-7 days, when in optimal growing conditions, reaching a production of 480 tons of green mass per hectare per year.

[026] Due to their uncontrolled growth, macrophytes cause numerous damages to the environmental balance in lakes, rivers and reservoirs, such as the reduction of dissolved oxygen levels and suspended nutrients, adversely affecting aquatic fauna and potentially resulting in serious ecological imbalances.

[027] These plants can be controlled by means Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 30 / 33 / 7 chemical or by mechanical means, the latter being preferable. Such means include, among others, boats and excavators as exemplified in Fig. 4.

[028] After collection, macrophytes have traditionally been transported by truck to disposal sites, such as landfills and the like.

[029] In the present invention, instead of being discarded, the macrophytes are left to dry in order to eliminate excess water, said drying being able to be done in areas where they are exposed to solar heat.

[030] After partial drying, the macrophytes are fragmented by known means, such as knife mills but not limited to these.

[031] Additionally, slaughterhouse waste is collected and subjected to fragmentation, after which it is mixed with fragmented macrophytes to form the food substrate (diet) for the larvae, in a proportion that varies between 10% slaughterhouse waste / 90% macrophytes and 40% of this waste / 60% macrophytes.

[032] During this mixing, the mass of mixed material is homogenized, reducing the size of its particles so that it can be processed by the larvae.

[033] Finally, the substrate moisture is adjusted to about 80%; if the substrate is too dry, the larvae may have difficulty absorbing food. On the other hand, if the substrate is too wet, they may try to leave in search of a drier environment.

[034] Although the invention was described based on Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, p. 31 / 33 / 7 a specific concretization, it is understood that such concretization is not limiting to its scope, which is defined by the claims that follow. Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, pp. 32 / 33

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. FOOD SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE, comprising a mixture of raw materials of plant origin and raw materials of animal origin, characterized in that said raw materials of plant origin comprise macrophytes and said inputs of animal origin comprise slaughterhouse waste rich in lipids.

2. FOOD SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE according to claim 1, characterized in that said macrophytes comprise species considered pests, including one from the group that includes Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia auriculata, Hydrilla verticillata, Ceratophyllum demersum and Limnobium laevigatum.

3. FEED SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixing proportions of said macrophytes and said inputs of animal origin comprise values ​​in the range of 90 / 10 to 60 / 40.

4. FOOD SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by being prepared by mixing fragmented macrophytes and fragmented slaughterhouse waste.

5. FOOD SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE according to claim 4, characterized in that said macrophytes are subjected to a preliminary drying after their collection and before fragmentation. Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, page 24 / 33 2 / 2 6. FEED SUBSTRATE FOR BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE according to claim 5, characterized in that, after mixing fragmented macrophytes and fragmented slaughterhouse waste, followed by homogenization, the moisture content is adjusted to approximately 80%. Petition 870240108798, dated 12 / 19 / 2024, pp. 25 / 33

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