INSECTS AS FEED
Is there Anything Grosser than Maggots?

Maggots. People don’t like the sight of them and very few are wiling to touch them. The thought of eating a maggot may cause convulsions in some. Yet, maggots may be the answer.

As repulsive as they are, maggots are an answer to our food waste problem because they eat food waste and then serve as livestock feed.

Each fly larvae can eat twice it’s weight in food waste each day. They will eat just about anything from meat to vegetables. And, they multiply very quickly.

This makes fly larvae a competitive feed and feeds additive for livestock.

These little animals (insects are animals) eat the proteins and fats in our food waste and then deliver them to livestock in food they love. What salmon or trout wouldn’t rather have a maggot over fishmeal?

To complete the cycle, waste from the larvae is fertilizer delivering nutrients back to the soil. It’s a beautiful cycle.

So, why do we dump food waste in landfills when it can be a valuable feed resource for farmers and ranchers?

The Black Soldier Flies are native to the United States and currently being farmed successfully. Salmon fed the larvae not only readily devoured it, but they also grow substantially larger than they do on a diet of fishmeal.

Why not replace fishmeal (made from harvesting the diminishing populations of anchovies, herring, menhaden, anchovy, sardines, and mackerel) with a sustainable source of insect larvae grown on our over-abundant food waste? 

OUTDATED REGULATIONS

At this time, the dried fly larvae have only recently been approved as Salmonoid feed (Salmon and Trout). Yet, it has great potential for poultry, pork, and as a protein-packed ingredient for other livestock feed.

RESTAURANT WASTE

Cities and towns should consider finding and funding an entrepreneur. They can collect restaurant and grocery waste to grow fly larvae. The larvae can be sold as a high-protein, nutritious salmonoid feed that salmon and trout love.

THE CONUNDRUM

• They are also an untapped, healthy, and sustainable source of livestock feed.
• They resolve food waste problems.

Why is this not a more popular endeavor for municipalities and entrepreneurs?
Because… Maggots are gross? Is that it?

Please help raise awareness. Maggots combat our food waste problem by being a healthy and sustainable livestock feed source and an effective soil fertilizer. Maggots reduce the over-fishing of feeder fish. If you know someone that can benefit from this knowledge, please pass it on. We need more maggot breeders.