PRODUCTION OF BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE FLOUR (BSF) ENRICHED WITH ORGANIC SELENIUM AS ANIMAL FEED INGREDIENT

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for producing organic selenium-enriched Black Soldier Fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larval meal as a functional animal feed ingredient. This method includes the stages of providing an organic-based feed substrate to which a selenium source is added as a precursor in the form of sodium selenite, fermenting the substrate using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under facultative aerobic or semi-aerobic conditions to convert inorganic selenium into organic selenium, and rearing BSF larvae on the fermented substrate so that selenium accumulates biologically in the larval tissue. Subsequently, BSF larvae are harvested and processed through drying and milling to produce BSF larval meal. This invention is characterized by the incorporation of selenium in organic form into the BSF larval biomass, resulting in a selenium-enriched BSF meal with high protein content and improved selenium bioavailability.Thus, this invention provides an integrated method through a combination of fermentation and bioconversion processes that produces more value-added, safe, and sustainable animal feed ingredients.