ODRŽIVO REĐENJE ZA ZAŠTITU TLA I SMANJENJE EMISIJE GASOVA

FROM BIOWASTE TO PROTEIN TREASURE

Black soldier fly larvae represent an innovative solution for the processing of biowaste, which can contribute to soil preservation, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the improvement of agriculture. Given that soil erosion is a serious global problem with significant economic consequences, the introduction of these larvae in biowaste processing is particularly important. A pilot project in Sremska Mitrovica, carried out in collaboration with partners such as the Regional Landfill Srem-Mačva with its location, Edoco from Ruma as the supplier of food for the larvae, JKP Komunalije as support for supplying part of the food, VIR Impex doo as the company responsible for producing suitable containers for larval breeding, the Scientific Institute for Food Products from Novi Sad as a partner responsible for extracting dried larvae into flour and oil, and creating a new protein meal for the pet food industry, the Institute for Chemistry, Technology, and Metallurgy - IHTM from Belgrade responsible for analyzing protein flour and organic fertilizer (frass), providing reports on the obtained quality, and the Agricultural Advisory Service of Sremska Mitrovica as a partner responsible for monitoring the effects and yields on the demonstration farm as well as organizing educational workshops for farmers.

Such high-protein products are ideal for the animal feed industry, pet food, livestock, food, and fishing industries, with dried larvae reaching prices of 3,000 to 4,000 euros per ton. Modern technologies such as automatic feeding, climate control, and process monitoring via the cloud ensure efficiency in operations, while manual cleaning and maintenance guarantee high-quality end products. Research on the impact of the obtained flour and fertilizer on the soil is part of the project, and all results will be presented to UNDP and other institutions, providing insight into the potential of this solution for sustainable agriculture and the reduction of climate impact.

SOIL EROSION AS A KEY THREAT

Soil erosion and land degradation pose a significant threat to global food security and the achievement of sustainable development goals, jeopardizing the well-being of at least 3.3 billion people worldwide.

Soil erosion is defined as the accelerated removal of the topsoil from the earth's surface through water, wind, and land cultivation.

It can take up to 1,000 years to produce 2-3 cm of soil.

33% of the Earth's land is already degraded, and over 90% could become degraded by 2050. (FAO and ITPS, 2015; IPBES, 2018)

Every five seconds, an area equivalent to one football field is eroded. (FAO and ITPS, 2015)

Soil erosion can lead to a 50% loss in crop yields.

The economic cost of land degradation for the European Union is estimated at tens of billions of euros annually.

Soil is a limited resource, which means that its loss and degradation cannot be replenished within a human lifetime.

STARTING POINTS

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT FORESEE?

The goal is to reduce the transportation of bio-waste to landfills and emissions of harmful gases in an innovative way. By introducing black soldier fly larvae, we focus on obtaining protein flour, oil, and high-quality compost that would enrich our fields.

We anticipate the introduction of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae for bio-waste treatment through collaboration with the Regional Landfill Srem-Mačva, which has an adequate location with all the necessary connections for the pilot plant's needs.

In technological/process terms, the three most important elements of the plant include the unit for preparation and pretreatment of input raw materials, the module for breeding and collecting larvae, and the unit for processing and preparing the final product.

The final product can refer to the separation of "live" larvae or their drying and grinding to obtain "protein flour." This final product can then be used in the food industry, animal feed, and livestock farming, as well as in the pet food industry.

The pilot project aims to investigate the quality of the obtained protein flour and oil, as well as to create a study on the impact of the produced fertilizer on soil and its effects on agricultural production. All results would be presented to UNDP and other interested institutions.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION

MODUL FOR GROWING
BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE

SPECIFICATION

Automatic handling

Automatic feeding

Manual addition of young larvae

Automatic sieving (separating larvae from residues)

Integrated deactivation and storage

Automatic climate control

Automated process control and monitoring via cloud

Manual cleaning and maintenance

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION

SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE
NATURAL FOOD PROCESSING LINE

The pre-treatment line for bio-waste consists of several key stages. The reception and storage of waste allow for checking the quantity and removing large impurities. This is followed by sorting to remove unwanted materials (plastic, metal), while crushing reduces volume and accelerates decomposition. Homogenization ensures a uniform texture of the waste, which is important for consistent processing. Moisture is then adjusted by adding water, optimizing conditions for microbial activity. After that, stabilization takes place in chambers or tanks through aerobic or anaerobic processes, depending on the final processing goal. Finally, the final pre-treatment may include sanitization or heating, preparing the waste for composting or anaerobic digestion.

INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CULTIVATION

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF A PILOT PLANT
FOR LARVAE PRODUCTION IN CONTAINERS

The larvae breeding module works by introducing organic materials as food for the larvae. Optimal conditions are maintained, including a temperature range of 25°C to 30°C and appropriate humidity levels. The larvae are fed bio-waste and grow rapidly. Once they reach maturity, they are harvested and processed into products such as protein flour, larvae oil, and compost. The system’s monitoring allows for tracking breeding conditions and larval quality, optimizing the process. This approach contributes to sustainable bio-waste management and the production of valuable resources.
The fly breeding module works by introducing organic materials into specialized containers, which serve as food for black soldier fly larvae. Optimal conditions are maintained, such as a temperature range between 25°C and 30°C and appropriate humidity levels. The larvae rapidly develop, breaking down bio-waste into proteins. Once they reach maturity, they are harvested and processed into various products, including protein flour, oil, and compost. Monitoring and quality control enable efficient process management, contributing to the sustainable use of resources and waste reduction.

SPECIFICATION

Input capacity of organic waste as larvae feed: 1 ton/day

Annual production capacity: approx. 36 tons/year of live larvae or 20 tons/year of dried larvae

Two workers

Dried larvae can be sold to customers in the pet food industry at prices ranging from 3,000 to 4,000€.

SAVINGS IN CO2, METHANE, AND OTHER GHG EMISSIONS

The rest. 9%
Coal mining 6%
Fertilizer management 9%
Other fertilizer 3%
MSW fertilizer 14%
Enteric fermentation 27%
Natural gas and oil systems 32%

In the U.S., solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of methane (CH4) emissions. Methane emissions from municipal waste landfills in 2021 were roughly equivalent to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from nearly 23.1 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year or the CO2 emissions from nearly 13.1 million homes using energy for one year.

According to FAO (2015), biowaste and food are responsible for 4.4 billion tons of CO2eq in global GHG emissions annually, or about 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

365 tons of biowaste annually.

On just 30m² of space for the larval breeding module.