Food Waste Management Employing UV-Induced Black Soldier Flies: Metabolomic Analysis of Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Properties, and Antibacterial Potential

Food waste, as a major part of municipal solid waste, has been increasingly generated worldwide. Efficient and feasible utilization of this waste material for biomanufacturing is crucial to improving economic and environmental sustainability. In the present study, black soldier flies (BSF) larvae were used as carriers to treat and upcycle food waste. Larvae of the BSF were incubated with UV light for 10, 20, and 30 min at a wavelength of 257.3 nm and an intensity of 8 W. The food waste utilization efficiency, antioxidant assays, antibacterial activity, and bioactive metabolites without and with UV treatment were determined and compared. Results showed that the BSF larvae feed utilization rate was around 75.6%, 77.7%, and 71.2% after UV treatment for 10, 20, and 30 min respectively, contrasting with the non-UV induced group (73.7%). In addition, it was perceived that the UV exposure enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of BSF extracts, and the maximum values were observed after 20 min UV induction time. Moreover, UV-induced BSF extracts showed an improved metabolic profile than the control group, with a change in the amino acids, peptides, organic acids, lipids, organic oxides, and other derivatives. This change in metabolomics profile boosted environmental signaling, degradation of starch, amino acids, sugars, and peptide metabolism. It was concluded that the bioconversion of food wastes using UV-induced BSF larvae can enhance the generation of a variety of functional proteins and bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. However, more studies are required to exploit the efficiency of UV treatment in improving BSF’s potential for upcycling of food wastes.