Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery

Abstract Valuable feed crops and fossil fuel energy are used to produce animal meat. To become sustainable, meat production methods must adapt to include non-food substrates and renewable fossil-fuel alternatives. We evaluated the potential of protein livestock feed and biodiesel production through...

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Main Authors: Jee Young Kim, Jonghyun Park, Dong-Jun Lee, Ye-Bin Choi, Youngjun Choi, Won-Kun Park, Bonwoo Koo, Kwanho Park, Doyeon Lee, Eilhann E. Kwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Science of Food
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00434-7
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author Jee Young Kim
Jonghyun Park
Dong-Jun Lee
Ye-Bin Choi
Youngjun Choi
Won-Kun Park
Bonwoo Koo
Kwanho Park
Doyeon Lee
Eilhann E. Kwon
author_facet Jee Young Kim
Jonghyun Park
Dong-Jun Lee
Ye-Bin Choi
Youngjun Choi
Won-Kun Park
Bonwoo Koo
Kwanho Park
Doyeon Lee
Eilhann E. Kwon
author_sort Jee Young Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Valuable feed crops and fossil fuel energy are used to produce animal meat. To become sustainable, meat production methods must adapt to include non-food substrates and renewable fossil-fuel alternatives. We evaluated the potential of protein livestock feed and biodiesel production through insect biorefining. The bioconversion efficiency of organic waste into black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) biomass was 32.0–35.8% after 24 d. The protein and lipid composition of BSFL changed with the cultivation time. The substrate influenced lipid content, and low lipid content led to lower lipid accumulation in the BSFL. Nevertheless, the potential productivity of proteins (42,471–48,345 kg ha−1 y−1) and lipids (41,642–64,708 kg ha−1 y−1) from BSFL cultivation with organic waste was higher than that of conventional livestock feed/biodiesel feedstocks, such as maize or soybean. In conclusion, insect biorefineries using BSFL can contribute significantly to the establishment of sustainable meat production.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2396-8370
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Science of Food
spelling doaj-art-eabf06da083345519bd09169fe59c4212025-08-20T03:53:14ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Food2396-83702025-05-01911810.1038/s41538-025-00434-7Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefineryJee Young Kim0Jonghyun Park1Dong-Jun Lee2Ye-Bin Choi3Youngjun Choi4Won-Kun Park5Bonwoo Koo6Kwanho Park7Doyeon Lee8Eilhann E. Kwon9Department of Earth Resources & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang UniversityDepartment of Earth Resources & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang UniversityDepartment of Earth Resources & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang UniversityDepartment of Animal Environment, National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS)Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk UniversityDepartment of Biological Engineering, Konkuk UniversityIndustrial Insect and Sericulture Division, Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, RDAIndustrial Insect and Sericulture Division, Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, RDADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanbat National UniversityDepartment of Earth Resources & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang UniversityAbstract Valuable feed crops and fossil fuel energy are used to produce animal meat. To become sustainable, meat production methods must adapt to include non-food substrates and renewable fossil-fuel alternatives. We evaluated the potential of protein livestock feed and biodiesel production through insect biorefining. The bioconversion efficiency of organic waste into black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) biomass was 32.0–35.8% after 24 d. The protein and lipid composition of BSFL changed with the cultivation time. The substrate influenced lipid content, and low lipid content led to lower lipid accumulation in the BSFL. Nevertheless, the potential productivity of proteins (42,471–48,345 kg ha−1 y−1) and lipids (41,642–64,708 kg ha−1 y−1) from BSFL cultivation with organic waste was higher than that of conventional livestock feed/biodiesel feedstocks, such as maize or soybean. In conclusion, insect biorefineries using BSFL can contribute significantly to the establishment of sustainable meat production.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00434-7
spellingShingle Jee Young Kim
Jonghyun Park
Dong-Jun Lee
Ye-Bin Choi
Youngjun Choi
Won-Kun Park
Bonwoo Koo
Kwanho Park
Doyeon Lee
Eilhann E. Kwon
Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
npj Science of Food
title Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
title_full Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
title_fullStr Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
title_short Enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
title_sort enhancing sustainability in meat production through insect biorefinery
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00434-7
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