Transforming Coffee and Meat By-Products into Protein-Rich Meal via Black Soldier Fly Larvae ( Hermetia illucens )

Claudia L. Vargas-Serna (), Angie N. Pineda-Osorio, Heidy Lorena Gallego-Ocampo, José L. Plaza-Dorado and Claudia I. Ochoa-Martínez
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Claudia L. Vargas-Serna: GIPAB Group (Agrifood and Biotechnological Processes Research Group), Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760042, Colombia
Angie N. Pineda-Osorio: GIPAB Group (Agrifood and Biotechnological Processes Research Group), Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760042, Colombia
Heidy Lorena Gallego-Ocampo: Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, Agrosavia, Rionegro 250074, Colombia
José L. Plaza-Dorado: GIPAB Group (Agrifood and Biotechnological Processes Research Group), Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760042, Colombia
Claudia I. Ochoa-Martínez: GIPAB Group (Agrifood and Biotechnological Processes Research Group), Escuela de Ingeniería de Alimentos, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760042, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: In response to increasing food waste and the necessity for sustainable resource utilization, this study evaluated the effectiveness of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae in converting a mixture of coffee and meat residues into protein-rich meal suitable for animal feed. A two-component mixture design optimized the substrate composition, followed by model validation and a comprehensive nutritional characterization of the larvae-derived protein. The larval meal contained 30–39 g of protein per 100 g (dry basis). The results indicated that increasing the meat residue content to 35% in the substrate maximized the protein yield. The optimized larval meal contained 52.9 g of protein per 100 g (dry basis) and favorable parameters such as moisture and fat, demonstrating a nutrient profile suitable for aquaculture feed. These findings suggested that Hermetia illucens larvae could convert agro-industrial by-products into high-quality protein. Coffee and meat residues served as suitable substrates for larval growth, supporting proper metabolic development and yielding a high bioconversion rate. This work contributes to the constant efforts in food waste valorization by integrating nutrient recovery processes into circular economy principles.

Keywords: black soldier fly larvae; coffee residues; meat by-products; sustainable protein production; food waste valorization; circular economy; agro-industrial waste recycling; alternative animal feed; protein optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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