Project Grant 20233882139977

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY, IN A SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY, THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON BLACK SOLDIER FLY (BSF) (HERMETIA ILLUCENS) INSECT TO CONVERT ORGANIC WASTES INTO A HIGH-QUALITY PROTEIN SOURCE AND AS AN ORGANIC FERTILIZER. THE SPECIFIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO USE BSF LARVAE (BSFL) TO DEGRADE THE WASTE GENERATED FROM ANIMAL AND FOOD INDUSTRY; TO CONVERT VOLUMINOUS POULTRY LITTER AND EXCRETA INTO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT LIKE FERTILIZER; PROMOTE BSFL AS A GREENER, HIGH VALUE FEED PROTEIN ALTERNATIVE TO HUMAN EDIBLE SOYBEAN, AND USE FRASS FROM BSFL GROWN ON DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES/WASTE AS AN ORGANIC FERTILIZER IN SWEETPOTATO SLIP PRODUCTION. GENERAL APPROACHES ARE TO REAR BSFL IN VARIOUS ORGANIC WASTES, UTILIZE THE LARVAE AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF PROTEIN IN POULTRY FEED AND USE THE BYPRODUCT (FRASS) AS AN ORGANIC FERTILIZER IN SWEETPOTATO SLIP PRODUCTION. WE EXPECT THAT, THE FRASS FERTILIZER GENERATED WILL INCREASE INCOME THROUGH SELLING ORGANIC FERTILIZER OR SAVE THE FARMERS FROM INCURRING DAILY INORGANIC FERTILIZER COSTS. REPLACING THE SOYBEAN MEAL WITH BSFL WILL ALSO HELP REDUCE POULTRY PRODUCTION COSTS. AS AN OUTCOME, THESE SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES WILL MAXIMIZE POULTRY PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY AND ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.