Aquaculture is the fastest growing human food production sector, tied closely with the continued increase in human population. With more food and more people, comes an increase in waste production. The use of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens; BSF) has the potential to address waste issues, as it converts organic waste products into valuable nutrients, and food production concerns, as it can be incorporated into fish feeds. This project update will assess how trials looking at the incorporation of a BSF protein product into fish feeds are progressing. BSF larvae were processed into insect-meal and used to create a series of fish diets that will be evaluated at all life stages of trout. Fish growth, survival, condition factor, food conversion ratios, and other chemical properties will be analysed. Salinity and temperature trails will be examined to further optimize rainbow trout aquaculture practises. These trials will inform us of the inclusion parameters associated with combining insect and fishmeal components in diets for aquaculture and the associated maximum level of insect meal that can be incorporated into rainbow trout diets without compromising fish growth or health.

Climate change, growing human population and increased wealth globally means food production and access to food will be one of society's biggest issues moving forward. I hope to address the issue of global food waste, by turning this into a usable food product which can be fed to aquaculture species. As fish farming has a lower environmental impact than any other livestock farming, I hope to create a sustainable food- waste cycle. Feeding our waste to insects, feeding insects as a diet to farmed fish, feeding fish to us and re-entering the cycle.