Reducing Food Waste in Phoenix, Arizona with Black Soldier Flies (Stratiomyidae: Hermetia illucens); an Analysis of Current Efforts from Arizona Worm Farm

Arizona is number one in the nation for the most food waste sent to landfills according to a study by LawnStarter® (Ardoin, 2021). This unsustainable practice of food disposal has the potential to be mitigated with the use of black soldier flies (BSF) (Stratiomyidae: Hermetia illucens) as currently explored by Arizona Worm Farm (AWF). BSF larvae consume the food waste allowing a more sustainable method of disposal. In addition, these larvae can be a food source for livestock. In order to improve AWF’s current program, analysis of the facility, climate, food sources, organization, and pest identification was conducted. A series of tests were designed to determine the effectiveness of, and to make improvements to, existing feeding protocols and food sources. These included nutritional analysis of the larvae, feed conversion tests, and pH analysis and moisture content examination of the standard diet of spent brewer’s grain. Environmental parameters were improved through a new organizational system, a new light source for mating, new methods for controlling humidity, and sealed enclosures for pest prevention to increase efficiency and productivity of the program. The previous open water source for adults resulted in higher mortality rates than a new system which allows for the adults to receive moisture on a cloth and reduces the risk of drowning. This study led to the development of a comprehensive protocol that will improve and grow AWF’s program by reducing mortality of adults from pests, open water, and dry conditions. Other BSF programs will be able to use this for guidance in order to raise BSF on a large scale, as a food source and for waste reduction in their own communities.