scholarly journals Black Soldier Fly School Workshops as Means to Promote Circular Economy and Environmental Awareness

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9574
Author(s):  
Andreas Walter ◽  
Thomas Klammsteiner ◽  
Magdalena Gassner ◽  
Carina Desirée Heussler ◽  
Suzanne Kapelari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Cross Link ◽  
Black Soldier Fly ◽  
The Public ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insect Decline ◽  
Citizen Science Project

Today, insect applications for food and feed are of strong economic, ecological and social interest. Despite their tremendous potential, insects still elicit negative associations in the mindset of Western consumers, which is attributed to a lack of knowledge and scarce opportunities for engagement in this topic. The citizen science project ‘six-legged livestock’ aims to increase the potential of the insect Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly), merging the topics ‘waste re-valorisation’ and ‘protein production’ as a cross-link to circular economy. Workshops were held in four school classes, involving 89 pupils, aged 15 to 18 years old. Making use of organic wastes, participating school classes ran eight rearing systems containing a total of 1800 H. illucens larvae. In the four-week experiments, the pupils monitored larval growth and development. Evidently, the pupils were highly motivated to run their rearing systems and fulfil their working tasks. Furthermore, negative associations with insects, including phobia and scepticism decreased, while excitement for the topic increased after hands-on work with the insects. The presented project may be considered an innovative approach paving the way for the establishment of insects as an important educational tool, since they are still underrepresented in scholarly curricula, despite the public outrage over insect decline.

Tolerance and Removal of Four Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds (PAHs) by Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-672
Author(s):  
Mingxia Fan ◽  
Nian Liu ◽  
Xiangji Wu ◽  
Jibin Zhang ◽  
Minmin Cai
Keyword(s):  
Development Time ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Black Soldier Fly ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
The Public ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well-recognized toxic chemical, cause the public hazard in environments. Here, we demonstrated the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) could tolerate the PAHs and reduce their content. Four typical PAHs (1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 mg/kg), naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, were individually spiked into BSFL conversion systems. The parameters for larval growth, conversion process, and PAHs removal were determined in spiked group and no-spiked control. The results show that the larval development time (19.7–21.0 d) in the half of PAH groups was significantly longer by 2–4 d than those in the control, while the relative growth rates (1.88–1.99% per day) in the majority PAH groups were lower. The larval mortalities (0–2.83%), harvest yields (80.20–85.91 g), conversion rates (14.71–15.83%), and eclosion rates (60.27–82.67%) in almost all of PAH groups did not significantly different from those in the control. The four PAHs potentially delayed the development time of BSFL, slowed the larval growth, and lower waste reduction rates, but these influences were slight and might be caused by the inhibition of PAHs to microbial activity. The BSFL-mortalities, conversion rates, yields, and eclosion rates were not significantly affected by the PAHs. Furthermore, BSFL effectively removed 34.1–84.2% of PAHs from subtracts in 18–21 d. The removal of PAHs with low concentration could be easier than those with high concentration by BSFL. The present results provide an alternative strategy to treat the waste contaminated by PAHs and elucidate the effect of PAHs on insects in the environment.

scholarly journals Yellow Mealworm and Black Soldier Fly Larvae for Feed and Food Production in Europe, with Emphasis on Iceland

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2744
Author(s):  
Runa Thrastardottir ◽  
Hildur Thora Olafsdottir ◽  
Ragnheidur Inga Thorarinsdottir
Keyword(s):  
Protein Production ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Feed Ingredient ◽  
Black Soldier Fly ◽  
Yellow Mealworm ◽  
Economy Of Scale ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Nutritional Benefits

Insects are part of the diet of over 2 billion people worldwide; however, insects have not been popular in Europe, neither as food nor as a feed ingredient. This has been changing in recent years, due to increased knowledge regarding the nutritional benefits, the need for novel protein production and the low environmental impact of insects compared to conventional protein production. The purpose of this study is to give an overview of the most popular insects farmed in Europe, yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, and black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, together with the main obstacles and risks. A comprehensive literature study was carried out and 27 insect farming companies found listed in Europe were contacted directly. The results show that the insect farming industry is increasing in Europe, and the success of the frontrunners is based on large investments in technology, automation and economy of scale. The interest of venture capital firms is noticeable, covering 90% of the investment costs in some cases. It is concluded that insect farming in Europe is likely to expand rapidly in the coming years, offering new proteins and other valuable products, not only as a feed ingredient, but also for human consumption. European regulations have additionally been rapidly changing, with more freedom towards insects as food and feed. There is an increased knowledge regarding safety concerns of edible insects, and the results indicate that edible insects pose a smaller risk for zoonotic diseases than livestock. However, knowledge regarding risk posed by edible insects is still lacking, but food and feed safety is essential to put products on the European market.

ANALYSIS OF THE PUBLIC PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES FOR PROMOTING THE CONCEPT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Vasiljevic-Shikaleska ◽  
◽  
Goran Trpovski ◽  
Biljana Gjozinska ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Environmental Activities

HANDS-ON GEODESY: ENGAGING THE PUBLIC AND FOSTERING INTERN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Zietlow ◽  
◽  
Beth Bartel ◽  
Shelley E. Olds
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
The Public ◽  
Hands On

scholarly journals Green Deal as a Climate Changes Dam on the Road to Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Road ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.

scholarly journals Identifying Challenges and Solutions in Cultural Heritage Adaptive Reuse through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach in Amsterdam

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5547
Author(s):  
Nadia Pintossi ◽  
Deniz Ikiz Kaya ◽  
Ana Pereira Roders
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Adaptive Reuse ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Landscape Approach ◽  
The Public ◽  
Private Knowledge ◽  
Manifest Content

Cultural heritage drives and enables sustainable urban development. The adaptive reuse of cultural heritage creates values while prolonging the lifespan of heritage. Similarly, circular economy creates value while extending the useful life of materials and elements through their reuse. Existing studies on adaptive reuse challenges seldom focus on cultural heritage properties, and they are often identified through the engagement of a limited variety of stakeholders, as compared to the actors normally involved in adaptive reuse. Filling this gap, this paper provides a preliminary baseline of challenges faced by the city of Amsterdam from the perspective of various involved stakeholders, and suggests solutions to address them. The participants represented the public, private, knowledge, and third sectors. The methods used were the following: for data collection, a multidisciplinary workshop using the steps of the Historic Urban Landscape approach as an assessment framework applied to multiple scales on adaptive reuse, and for data analysis, manifest content analysis. The results expanded the range of challenges and solutions reported by previous literature on the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage in content and scale by identifying 61 themes—e.g., knowledge and civic engagement. Tools and stakeholders were also identified. These findings provide a reference for future practice, policymaking, and decision-making, facilitating the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage to capitalize on its potential for sustainable development and circular economy.

Effects of antibiotics on the development and intestinal bacterial diversity of black soldier fly larvae

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
J.B. Zhang ◽  
Y. Meng ◽  
J. Xu ◽  
C. Rensing ◽  
D. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Streptomycin Sulphate ◽  
Black Soldier Fly ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
Black Soldier Fly Larvae ◽  
Hermetia Illucens Larvae

The effects of four antibiotics (metronidazole (M) levofloxacin (L), sodium ampicillin (A), and streptomycin sulphate (S)) and their pair-wise combinations at three doses on the development and intestinal bacterial diversity of the black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larvae were studied. At a low dose M and L were able to inhibit larval growth. At a high dose, all antibiotics were shown to inhibit larval growth. However, the pair-wise combinational use of the antibiotics did not effectively enhance the inhibitory effect. The gut bacterial diversity of the normal control (NC) was significantly higher than the antibiotic-treated groups with 737 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from the larval guts of NC, compared to 305 and 227 from ML and AS. The number of anaerobic bacteria in ML was significantly lower than in NC and AS, with the relative abundance of OTUs from larval guts of ML being only about 0.01, compared to 0.4 for NC and 0.15 for AS. These results indicated that antibiotics at the experimental concentration did not affect the palatability of food for insects, but they would affect the diversity of food and intestinal microorganisms of BSF larvae, and the inhibitory effect of antibiotics on growth and development of BSF larvae displayed in this study was a complex effect.

scholarly journals Collaboration for chemistry communication: Insights from a research-practice partnership

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. N01
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kunz Kollmann ◽  
Marta Beyer ◽  
Emily Howell ◽  
Allison Anderson ◽  
Owen Weitzman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Informal Education ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Science Museums ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
The Public ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Perceived Relevance ◽  
Data Collections

As several recent National Academies of Sciences reports have highlighted, greater science communication research is needed on 1) communicating chemistry, and 2) building research-practice partnerships to advance communication across science issues. Here we report our insights in both areas, gathered from a multi-year collaboration to advance our understanding of how to communicate about chemistry with the public. Researchers and practitioners from science museums across the U.S. partnered with academic social scientists in science communication to develop and conduct multi-strand data collections on chemistry communication and informal education. Our focus was on increasing interest in, the perceived relevance of, and self-efficacy concerning chemistry through hands-on activities and connecting chemistry to broader themes concerning everyday life and societal impacts. We outline challenges and benefits of the project that future collaborations can gain from and illustrate how our strands of work complemented each other to create a more complete picture of public perceptions of chemistry.

scholarly journals Compliance of Lebanese Pickling Industry with Lebanese and International Standards

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1559-1563
Author(s):  
Sami Tlais ◽  
Hayat Omairi ◽  
Ali Al Khatib ◽  
Hassan HajjHussein
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Consumer Protection ◽  
New Products ◽  
International Standards ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Alert System ◽  
News Reporting ◽  
The Public ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Rapid Alert System

In light of recent news reporting the use of banned colorants in Lebanese-made pickled turnips exported to the European Union (EU) by the Rapid Alert System of Food and Feed (RASFF), The Lebanese Consumer Protection Association tested samples of pickled turnips being sold to the public and confirmed the use of rhodamine B. Many products were pulled off the market and were replaced with new products that were supposed to be free of any banned colorants. We selected 5 different brands of pickled turnips and tested them for pH, salinity, nitrites, and colorants. We tested the salinity using two methods: evaporation and titration. The concentration of nitrites was tested by absorbency method. The presence of colorants was determined using TLC and absorbency method. We determined that the newly released pickled turnips comply with the rules and regulations adopted by the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR) and the international standards according to the Codex Alimentarius.

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