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

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Walter

    (Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, MCI—The Entrepreneurial School, Maximilianstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Thomas Klammsteiner

    (Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Magdalena Gassner

    (Department of Subject-Specific Education, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Carina Desirée Heussler

    (Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Suzanne Kapelari

    (Department of Subject-Specific Education, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Markus Schermer

    (Department of Sociology, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Heribert Insam

    (Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Walter & Thomas Klammsteiner & Magdalena Gassner & Carina Desirée Heussler & Suzanne Kapelari & Markus Schermer & Heribert Insam, 2020. "Black Soldier Fly School Workshops as Means to Promote Circular Economy and Environmental Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9574-:d:446588
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heather Looy & Florence Dunkel & John Wood, 2014. "How then shall we eat? Insect-eating attitudes and sustainable foodways," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(1), pages 131-141, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elżbieta Izabela Szczepankiewicz & Jan Fazlagić & Windham Loopesko, 2021. "A Conceptual Model for Developing Climate Education in Sustainability Management Education System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, January.
    2. N. Nurlaela Arief & Melia Famiola & Andika Putra Pratama & Prameshwara Anggahegari & Aghnia Nadhira Aliya Putri, 2022. "Sustainability Communication through Bio-Based Experiential Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.

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