PhD position: Waste valorisation with larvae of the Black Soldier fly

Larvae of the black soldier fly are good at converting a large variety of substrates towards proteinaceous, and high energy (fat), body mass.

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Larvae of the black soldier fly are good at converting a large variety of substrates towards proteinaceous, and high energy (fat), body mass. Within the industry there is interest in two main business models; one is the efficient production (concentration) of proteins and fats, to be used as feed ingredients. The second is focused on waste reduction, where protein, fat and frass (mainly insect excrements to be used as fertilizer) are produced as by-products.

To decrease residual mass of the waste and improve weight gain (optimize conversion efficiency) a screening method is needed in which selective additions of nutrients are tested in vivo. 

The selection of the nutrients and their concentrations is to be based on the chemical composition of the waste material and the requirements of the larva...