The frass production lead to decrease the peat extraction, increasing the resilience of the territories and their autonomy.
The introduction of an alternative source of animal protein allows regions to be more autonomous and resilient in addressing key issues of our time, such as the increasing global population and the resulting higher demand for animal proteins, along with the decreasing availability of arable land.

The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (BSF), is a South American dipteran belonging to the Stratiomyidae family, now widespread throughout the temperate zones of the planet due to maritime transport. The saprophagous larva can feed on a wide range of organic substances, including many by-products of the agri-food industry. The farming of edible insects is one of the innovations introduced in Europe over the past decade. These insects create circular economy systems, transforming low-energy waste and by-products from the agro-industrial sector into high-energy proteins, fats for feed formulations and frass.
The primary objective of the project is to evaluate and identify the best mixture of by-products that can be utilized in the Apulia region for BSF farming, which is essential for creating local circular economies. The secondary objective is to formulate optimal diets for specific purposes, such as the creation of frass dedicated to individual plant species or cultivation methods.

The research aims to create a model applicable to small and medium-sized agricultural and processing companies to reduce waste, differentiate production and increase their autonomy.
The primary objective of the project is to evaluate and identify the best mixture of by-products that can be utilized in the Apulia region for BSF farming, which is essential for creating local circular economies.