Dog Food Produced from Flies

Dog Food Produced from Flies Prof. Dr. Çalıkoğlu, who founded a company with his spouse Dr. Tamer Çalıkoğlu, a radiation oncologist, within DEÜ Teknoparkı (DEPARK), is conducting research on environmentally friendly BSF, known in Turkish as "siyah asker sineği" (black soldier fly). At his facility in Güzelbahçe, Çalıkoğlu conducts scientific research with support from TÜBİTAK and İzmir Kalkınma Ajansı (İZKA), first obtaining oil with moisturizing, cleansing and regenerative properties from the environmentally friendly fly. Çalıkoğlu, who uses the fly's oil as a cosmetic raw material and has received offers from international pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, also obtained high-quality fertilizer and animal feed from the same insect. Following the American Feed Control Officials Association's (AAFCO) approval of BSF protein for adult dog food and treat foods, Çalıkoğlu also utilized black soldier fly larvae as cat and dog food. Drying BSF waste and using it in powder form in dog food, Çalıkoğlu both produces the product and feeds neglected animals brought to his facility by those around him with high-protein feed.  

"We wanted to be pioneers of this product in our country"

  Prof. Dr. Emel Erdal Çalıkoğlu stated that after producing oil from black soldier fly larvae for the cosmetics industry, they decided to convert the remaining material into powder form. Sharing information that cat and dog foods are produced from the same fly in European countries and the United States, Çalıkoğlu said, "AAFCO-approved BSF-based foods are produced in Germany and Belgium. We wanted to be pioneers of this product in our country." Çalıkoğlu emphasized that one of the most important benefits of the research is taking advantage of "larvae consuming waste," stating: "They consume valuable waste. They eat food scraps and food waste that we discard before they reach the fork, waste that we cannot call garbage, and they eliminate them. They transform them into high-value-added products. They make an important contribution to what we call this circular economy, benefit within benefit. To obtain the products we call feed, we ultimately leave a carbon footprint, a water footprint, we harm the world and our environment. These are the opposite—they use waste and transform into very high-quality feed that leaves neither a carbon nor water footprint." he said. Pointing out that cats and dogs very much like the products, Çalıkoğlu stated that products rich in lauric acid have antibacterial properties. Noting that they also feed cats and dogs brought by animal lovers in the area with high protein and fat content feeds, Çalıkoğlu said, "Animal lovers bring us injured, allergic, and malnourished animals. We voluntarily feed them here. Our insects have also been of benefit to them." he stated. Expressing that BSF can be used in different sectors, Prof. Dr. Emel Erdal Çalıkoğlu revealed her new targets: "We have obtained moisturizers, cleansers and soap from the black soldier fly. We are continuing discussions with some major cosmetic companies on this matter. We want to develop new products. We plan to use it in wound healing particularly because of its antibacterial properties." Source (AA)