The environmental impact of fishmeal and hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly) larvae meal in aquaculture feed, utilising life cycle assessment under South African conditions.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2023

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Southern African aquaculture industry is hampered by access to affordable, sustainably produced feed. Fishmeal is commonly utilised as a protein source in aquaculture feed. However, there are growing concerns regarding the unsustainable utilisation of pelagic fish resources. European Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies indicate that Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal proves promising as an alternative sustainable protein source in aquaculture feed. In the present study, LCA was utilised to ascertain the environmental impact of Hermetia illucens larvae meal compared to fishmeal, from a South African context. Uncertainty analysis was included to analyse the validity of midpoint and endpoint category results. The present study ascertained that fishmeal production in South Africa has reduced environmental impact compared to local insect meal production. However, it was determined that comparisons between insect meal and fishmeal production in South Africa were complicated due to the small-scale manufacturing capacity of local insect meal producers and limited data availability. It was determined that national grid electricity utilisation has considerable impacts on both feed ingredient processes, and further research is required from a South African context to enhance processing efficiency and reduce fossil fuel reliance.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse akwakultuur industrie word grootliks geïnhibeer deur beperkte toegang tot bekostigbare voer wat in ‘n volhoubare manier geproduseer word. Vismeel word steeds as die verkose proteïn bron in akwakultuur voer gebruik. Daar word egter kommer uitgespreek oor die onvolhoubare manier waarop pelagiese-vis hulpbronne gebruik word. Europese Lewens-siklus-assessering studies dui aan dat Hermetia illucens larwe as ‘n alternatiewe, volhoubare proteïn-bron in akwakultuur voer gebruik kan word. Om die omgewings-impak van Hermetia illucens larwe meel met dit van vismeel te vergelyk vanaf ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, was daar in die huidige studie gebruik gemmak van Lewens-siklus-assessering. Die geldigheid van midde-punt en eind-punt kategorie resultate was deur onsekerheids-annalise bepaal. Die huidige studie het aangedui dat vismeel produksie in Suid-Afrika ‘n mindere omgewings impak het invergelyking met insekmeel. Hierdie vergelyking was egter bemoeilik weens die kleinskaalse vervaardigings-vermoeë van Suid-Afrikaanse insekmeel vervaardigers asook die beperkte beskikbaarheid van vervaardigings-informasie. Die huidige studie het bepaal dat nationale elektrisiteits-verbruik in die vervaardiging van beide voer- bestandele, aansienlike impakte het op die omgewing. Dus, word verdere navorsing vanaf ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief benodig om die effektiwiteit, asook volhoubaarheid van vismeel en insekmeel vervaardiging te verbeter asook die afhanklikheid van fossiel-brandstowwe te verminder.

Masters