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RRD4P: FRDC Contribution: Closing the Loop: Black Soldier Fly technology to convert agricultural waste

Project number: 2019-172
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $90,000.00
Principal Investigator: Denise Woods
Organisation: Australian Pork Ltd (APL)
Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2020 - 29 Jun 2022
:

Need

Black soldier fly farming (BSF) is an emerging industry that provides a low-cost waste management solution for converting agricultural waste into high quality fertiliser (BSF castings or frass) and protein (BSF larvae as animal feed). However, the BSF products cannot be developed further in Australia until biosecurity, environmental and food safety risks are addressed. This collaborative project between industry, government and researchers will a) develop frass as a slow-release, granulated fertilizer product that is safe to handle, transport and apply; b) quantify the biosecurity and environmental risks associated with applying frass to cropping and c) overcome the barriers to adoption by involving policy makers and farmers during trials and assisting early adopters through extension activities. Adoption of BSF technology and its products has potential to increase productivity and profitability via reduced input costs and alternative revenue streams on agricultural enterprises.

Primary industries produce large volumes of waste by-products that often contain significant amounts of macro and micro-nutrients that are typically in a dilute, nutritionally unbalanced form for agricultural crops (Abbott et al., 2018). The handling, management and application of wastes are costly and time consuming for producers whilst transportation and reuse off-farm is currently impractical and uneconomical. Poor livestock and waste management practices in the past have led to stable fly (as opposed to the Black Soldier Fly which is not a pest) outbreaks, odour, GHG emissions and nutrient leaching and runoff into waterways. This has resulted in stringent application restrictions being imposed for manure application through Health Regulations 2001 and through the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act). These regulations on manure disposal have led to loss of important marketing options causing significant cost increases (> $4 million annually). Currently, composting to Australian Standards on-site is both costly and lengthy and does not have sufficient scale, capacity or end market to process the entire allotment of manure. Consequently, large quantities of manure (225,000m3 of manure per annum) are transported long distances to broadacre agricultural zones for pasture and crop fertilisation at a significant cost to producers.
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BSF technology has potential to improve profitability and sustainability for livestock and cropping industries by significantly reducing waste volumes whilst creating a high value fertiliser product. Once fully commercialised, BSF cultivation could process hundreds of tonnes of waste per day, requiring only a small amount of space. The BSF technology is both suitable for medium to large enterprises and provides more flexibility for smaller enterprises or regional hubs. The BSF reproduces rapidly, have high feed conversion efficiency and produce half a tonne of frass for every tonne of waste processed (Moula et al., 2018). The BSF process has also been shown to significantly reduce the biosecurity and environment risks associated with waste management. The BSF larvae outcompete stable fly, decrease the nutrient content (total N by 55 and P by 45%, respectively) and lower pathogen loading of E. coli and Salmonella levels (Lui et al., 2008; Erickson et al., 2004). In addition, BSF have been shown to reduce antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genomes in waste substrates (Cai et al., 2018). Therefore, the resulting frass fertiliser has potential to mitigate and lower the risk of contamination, GHG emissions, nutrient leaching and runoff. Developing the frass as a high quality fertiliser would open new markets and create new revenues for profit, making BSF more economically viable for the livestock industries. However, the agronomic and economic value of frass fertiliser as well as the environmental and biosecurity risks of their application needs to be evaluated to increase adoption. Also, the frass fertilizer products must be tailored to crop nutrient requirements, machinery and operations. In addition, research is needed to understand the mode and mechanisms of delivery so that the frass can be developed as a slow release fertiliser to minimise the loss of nutrients through runoff, leaching and GHG emissions. Further research on the social license and regulatory

Objectives

1. Investigate the development of Black Soldier Fly Farming (BSF) castings and larvae into high quality, low-cost, slow-release, granulated fertilizer products, that are safe to handle, transport and apply
2. Screening and optimisation of waste streams - Characterise all waste inputs to provide a profile of nutritional value and properties
3. Economic feasibility, socio-economic costs and benefits, and market evaluation
4. Assess the biosecurity risks of Black soldier fly products (frass and larvae)
5. Assess the environmental risks of Black soldier fly products (frass and larvae)
6. Assess the benefits of using BSF frass and/or larvae as a soil improver
7. Develop a granulated and/or pelletised fertiliser product
8. Develop a slow release enhanced efficiency fertiliser product
9. Develop a high quality animal feed product from approved waste materials (horticulture and meeting processing)

Final report

Authors: Dr. Sasha Jenkins and A/Prof. Marit Kragt Dr Matt Redding
Final Report • 2023-02-28 • 5.10 MB
2019-172-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project investigated BSF waste treatment technology to provide a new waste management options that is more sustainable, productive and profitable for the primary industries. It explored the conversion of low-value agricultural waste products into high quality, innovative fertilisers and soil improvers. This will potentially create new markets for primary industries leading to decrease primary production costs. The project also sought to overcome key barriers to adoption of novel fertilizers/soil improvers by engaging with regulatory bodies via project activities.
Final Report

Summary

Black soldier fly farming (BSF) is an emerging industry that provides a low-cost waste management solution for converting agricultural waste into high quality fertiliser (BSF castings or frass) and protein (BSF larvae as animal feed).
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-417
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

National People Development: Membership of PIEFA to support and encourage the teaching and learning in Australian schools of information related to the Australian Fishing Industry

PIEFA was established in 2007 with bipartisan government support following an extensive series of roundtables and working party meetings supported by the federal Minister of Agriculture. PIEFA became operational in April 2010 with support from the government, education and industry sectors. The...
ORGANISATION:
Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA)

Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2022

Project number: 2023-082
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $60,000.00
Principal Investigator: Robert Curtotti
Organisation: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date: 17 Dec 2023 - 29 Jun 2024
:

Need

Statistics on Australian fisheries production and trade seeks to meet the needs of the fishing and aquaculture industry, fisheries managers, policymakers and researchers. It can assist in policy decisions, industry marketing strategies and the allocation of research funding or priorities. The gross value of production for specific fisheries are used for determining the research and development levies collected by government.

The neutrality and integrity of GVP estimates is therefore important due to their forming the basis for research levies for each fishery. At the international level, the Department of Agriculture through the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) contributes to a number of international databases. These include databases managed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Information at the international level can assist in international negotiations on issues such as trans-boundary fisheries and analysis of trade opportunities.

Objectives

1. To maintain and improve the data base of production, gross value of production and trade statistics for the Australian fishing industry, including aquaculture.
2. To provide these data in an accessible form.
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-134
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2017

The research undertaken in this project (2018/134) produced data on the volume and value of production from Commonwealth, state and Northern Territory fisheries, and the volume and value of Australian fisheries trade, by destination, source and product, covering the years 2006-07 to 2016-17. The...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
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