Black soldier flies are increasingly being utilized in commercial settings to process organic waste. Recent genetic modifications suggested by bioscientists could enhance their ability to break down a broader range of waste materials and generate fundamental components for various industries.
A team from Macquarie University is advocating for the use of genetically modified black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) to tackle global pollution issues and produce valuable raw materials for various sectors, including the USD $500 billion global animal feed industry.
In a research article released on July 24 in Communications Biology, the Macquarie University scientists envision a future where modified flies could revolutionize waste management and foster sustainable biomanufacturing, aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The lead author, Dr. Kate Tepper, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, emphasizes, “One of the significant challenges in creating circular economies is producing high-value products from waste.”
Landfill Issues
Approximately 40 to 70 percent of organic waste worldwide is sent to landfills.
Dr. Tepper points out, “Landfilling of organic waste accounts for about five percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, and we need to eliminate that.”
By utilizing organic by-products from sewage treatment — municipal biosolids — as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers, we can enhance crop growth and recycle nutrients.
However, Dr. Tepper highlights growing concerns about hazardous chemicals in waste, particularly persistent ‘forever chemicals’ like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
In many developing countries, organic waste left in open areas contaminates drinking and irrigation water, attracts pests, spreads diseases, and damages natural habitats. Additionally, farmers often burn unusable crop remnants, contributing to air pollution.
Currently, black soldier flies are valued in waste management for their ability to consume commercial organic waste, which is then processed into ‘insect biomass’ for pet food and livestock feed.
The team at Macquarie believes that genetic modifications could broaden the capabilities of the black soldier fly, allowing them to convert waste into enhanced animal feed or valuable industrial raw materials.
The larvae could produce industrial enzymes that are currently utilized in livestock, textiles, food, and pharmaceutical industries, representing a multibillion-dollar global market.
Moreover, these flies can be engineered to produce specialized lipids for use in biofuels and lubricants, substituting for fossil fuel-based products.
By modifying these insects to generate industrial enzymes and lipids that aren’t included in the food supply chain, researchers can increase the range of organic waste they can process, proposing modifications that would enable the flies to consume contaminated organic material, sewage sludge, and other complex waste types.
“Even the waste produced by the flies, known as ‘frass,’ could be enhanced to create better fertilizers,” explains Dr. Tepper. “These flies could be engineered to remove chemical contaminants from their frass, making it a pollutant-free fertilizer that can be used for growing crops and preventing contaminants from entering our food supply.”
Advancements in Sustainable Biomanufacturing
Senior author Dr. Maciej Maselko, who leads an animal synthetic biology lab at Macquarie University’s Applied BioSciences, states, “Insects will become the next frontier for applying synthetic biology to tackle waste management challenges that we haven’t been able to address with microbes.”
Unlike genetically engineered microbes, which require sterile environments to avoid contamination and need significant amounts of water and refined nutrients, black soldier flies can thrive on raw, unprocessed waste.
Dr. Maselko explains, “We can feed black soldier flies directly with unprocessed waste. With just a bit of chopping, they can consume massive amounts of waste much more quickly than microbes can.”
The researchers propose that genetic engineering could leverage existing frameworks, transforming the flies from simple waste processors into advanced biomanufacturing platforms. In the paper, they present a plan that advocates for improved genetic engineering tools for key insect species.
“Physical containment is one protective measure. We are also working on additional genetic containment strategies to ensure that if any flies escape, they won’t be able to reproduce or survive in the wild,” adds Dr. Maselko.
Path to Commercialization
Macquarie University, in collaboration with some research team members, has already filed patent applications related to black soldier fly biomanufacturing through a spin-off company called EntoZyme.
Dr. Tepper asserts that the introduction of genetically modified insects holds great promise, not only in the multi-billion dollar waste management sector but also in the production of a variety of high-value industrial materials.
“To establish a sustainable circular economy, the economics must be viable,” Dr. Tepper explains.
“When there is a financial incentive to adopt sustainable technologies, such as engineering insects to maximize the value derived from waste products, this will facilitate a quicker transition.”
