Kaufland to use fly larvae for food waste management

Supermarket chain Kaufland and its environmental division, PreZero, are launching a new waste management project using Black Soldier Fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) to process food waste.

The process involves turning unsellable food items into a fine mash, which serves as food for the larvae. These larvae are known for their ability to decompose organic waste extremely quickly. Once the larvae have grown, they can be processed themselves, serving as a protein-rich alternative to soy and fish meal in animal nutrition.

Unlike common houseflies, adult Black Soldier Flies do not have functional mouthparts and do not consume food, meaning they do not transmit diseases to humans. The initiative aims to address the challenge of disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tons of food waste generated by the retail industry in Germany each year.