Should we be letting flies eat our food waste? – BBC

Innovative Use of Fly Larvae in Food Waste Management: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Food waste management remains a critical challenge for urban centers worldwide. In Vilnius, Lithuania, an innovative approach utilizing fly larvae (maggots) to process food waste is contributing significantly to sustainable waste management practices. This report highlights the initiative’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Fly Larvae as a Sustainable Solution for Food Waste Processing

Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania with 607,000 residents, alongside six neighboring councils, generates approximately 2,700 tonnes of food waste annually. The waste management company Energesman has implemented a system where fly larvae are employed to consume and process this waste efficiently.

• Energesman provides this service free of charge, saving Vilnius up to €2 million annually, with plans to process 12,000 tonnes by 2026.
• Residents are encouraged to separate food waste using newly introduced orange bags and an influencer marketing campaign.
• This initiative supports SDG 11 by promoting sustainable urban waste management and SDG 12 by encouraging responsible consumption and waste separation.

Operational Details and Environmental Impact

Energesman maintains a controlled environment housing around six million flies, which reproduce rapidly:

1. A female fly lays approximately 500 eggs during a 21-day lifespan.
2. More than three million larvae are processed monthly, consuming over 11 tonnes of food waste in their early stages.

The larvae’s voracious appetite makes them ideal for food waste processing, reducing landfill use and methane emissions, thus contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Value-Added Products from Fly Larvae

The fly larvae are harvested before maturation to produce protein-rich products and organic fertilizers:

• Protein products are used in animal feed and industrial applications such as paint, glue, lamp shades, and furniture covers.
• Their manure, known as frass, serves as an effective fertilizer.
• Energesman has initiated supply trials with partners in various industries and collaborates with universities for research and bacterial feeding applications.

This diversification supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering sustainable industrial practices.

Regulatory Challenges and Global Perspectives

Despite promising developments, regulatory constraints exist:

• EU health and safety regulations prohibit the use of fly larvae fed with kitchen waste in edible insect products for human consumption due to contamination risks.
• In the UK, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) regulations currently restrict the use of insects for processing organic waste, limiting wider adoption.

Globally, similar initiatives include:

• Project Mila in Kenya, a social enterprise addressing food waste and providing fertilizer to farmers.
• Goterra in Australia, which has conducted trials processing food waste in Sydney and neighboring councils.

These examples highlight progress towards SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaborative efforts in sustainable waste management.

Future Outlook and Recommendations

With mandatory weekly household food waste collections commencing in England by March 2026, there is growing interest in insect-based waste processing:

• Flybox, a UK-based insect waste management company, operates multiple processing sites and advocates for regulatory reform to enable council contracts.
• Adapting regulations to align with scientific advancements could facilitate the establishment of insect-based waste processing plants within two years.
• Such developments would significantly contribute to SDG 12 by enhancing responsible consumption and production patterns and SDG 13 by mitigating climate change impacts.

Conclusion

The use of fly larvae for food waste processing in Vilnius and other global examples demonstrates an innovative, sustainable approach aligned with multiple SDGs. Overcoming regulatory barriers and expanding such initiatives can play a vital role in achieving sustainable urban development, reducing environmental impact, and promoting circular economy principles.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses city councils adopting innovative waste management solutions to handle food waste sustainably.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Focus on reducing food waste through processing with fly larvae and promoting waste separation among residents.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Reducing methane emissions by diverting food waste from landfill to insect bioconversion.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Use of organic fertiliser (frass) from fly larvae supports sustainable agriculture and soil health.
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Development of innovative insect-based waste management technologies and new industrial applications for fly larvae products.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 11: Target 11.6
   • Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
2. SDG 12: Target 12.3
   • By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
   • SDG 13: Target 13.2
     • Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions from waste.
   • SDG 15: Target 15.3
     • By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods.
   • SDG 9: Target 9.5
     • Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors, including waste management innovations.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Quantity of Food Waste Processed
   • Tonnes of food waste processed by fly larvae (e.g., 2,700 tonnes currently, target of 12,000 tonnes in 2026 in Vilnius).
2. Household Food Waste Collection Coverage
   • Percentage of households participating in food waste separation and collection (e.g., introduction of orange food waste bags and influencer campaigns).
3. Cost Savings
   • Monetary savings for the city from using fly larvae processing (€2m per year savings mentioned).
4. Reduction in Methane Emissions
   • Implied through diversion of food waste from landfill to insect bioconversion, reducing methane emissions associated with landfill.
5. Production of Protein and Fertiliser Products
   • Volume or amount of protein products and organic fertiliser (frass) produced from fly larvae.
6. Number of Insect Waste Processing Sites
   • Growth in the number of operational insect waste processing facilities (e.g., Flybox operating multiple sites in the UK).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com