BITS Hyderabad develops low-cost system to convert food waste into animal feed
Hyderabad, Nov 11 (UNI) Researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani Hyderabad Campus have developed a low-cost system using black soldier fly larvae to convert food waste into protein-rich animal feed, offering a sustainable solution for organic waste management and resource recovery. The system, developed by Prof. Sankar Ganesh Palani, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, along with research graduate Dr Atun Roy Choudhury, uses the natural waste-consuming ability of black soldier fly larvae to process vegetable, fruit and cooked food waste into nutrient-rich biomass within approximately two weeks, the Institute said in a release on Wednesday.
The innovation offers a faster alternative to conventional composting, which generally takes several weeks or months, and can be deployed in hotels, educational institutions, hospitals, residential societies and other establishments to process segregated wet waste at source. According to the researchers, the system is designed using easily available materials from hardware shops and comprises an egg-laying and hatching vessel paired with a harvesting bucket. A 7-8 cm layer of coconut coir and sand filters the leachate, while the filtered liquid is recirculated to maintain moisture levels of 50-60 per cent and facilitate the movement of mature larvae into the harvesting bucket, reducing manual handling. Initial trials recorded a yield of approximately two kg of larvae per day over a 20-day period. Developed at a unit cost of around Rs. 2,500, the system is designed to be affordable, space-efficient and suitable for decentralised waste processing. Its enclosed design also helps address unpleasant odour, a major concern associated with on-site organic waste management.
Dr Atun Roy Choudhury said black soldier fly larvae are harmless insects that consume vegetable and fruit waste, cooked food and manure. During their two-week larval stage, they convert organic waste into body mass more efficiently than warm-blooded animals. The larvae contain approximately 20 per cent protein and 25 per cent fat, making them a potential alternative feed ingredient for poultry, pig farming and aquaculture. The residual organic material, known as frass, can also potentially be used as a soil amendment. The researchers said the innovation combines waste reduction with the recovery of economically useful by-products, contributing to more resource-efficient and sustainable waste management practices. UNI KNR MCR
