Cecilia Lalander

I work with various biodegradable waste fractions, including food waste, toilet waste, and by-products from the food industry. My primary focus is on the conversion of these wastes using black soldier fly larvae, which generates two valuable products: larval biomass for animal feed and a biologically active organic fertilizer known as frass. This process aligns with the principles of the circular economy, where waste or residual streams from one process become raw materials for another. For more information about our research on resource recycling from biodegradable waste, please visit our blog.

As of January 2025 I am the Director of Graduate Studies at the department. I am also an associate editor for the Journal of Insects as feed and food. More info on my Linkedin profile.

The focus of my research is on resource recycling from biodegradable waste. Our hypothesis is that inadequate management of biodegradable waste largely is due to the high cost of treatment, which often outweighs the revenue from the products generated. We believe that if more valuable products could be derived, waste management for this fraction would improve.

We specialise in fly larvae composting, using the tropical black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae to convert biodegradable waste into larval biomass, which can be used as animal feed, and a treatment residue (frass), a biologically active organic fertiliser. My research examines the influence of process parameters on treatment efficiency, assesses different waste sources, and explores methods to enhance efficiency, such as pre-treatment strategies.

Since this is a closed-loop system, the fate of contaminants is a crucial consideration, and we emphasise ensuring safe resource circulation. Additionally, we investigate the environmental impact, including direct emissions of greenhouse gases during the treatment process.

We also work with implementation of this technology in Sweden as well as other parts of the world (currently Rwanda and China).

We are currently involved in the large-scale implimentation project The feed of the future for fish, pigs, poultry and laying hens. 

This project is a continuation of the research project Five tonnes of green fish on the plate, in which four tonnes of rainbow trout were fed circular feed, in which  insects were the major protein source. The larvae were reared on vegetable cuttings from Grönsakshallen Sorunda, and reclaimed bread from Fazer.

I am course leader of the 5 credit course Waste management. I also teach in the courses Safe nutrient recycling and Sustainable technologies for low- and medium income countries. 

On-going as main supervisor

Lovisa Lindberg, work title: Process efficiency in black solider fly composting of plant based food industry waste - Impact of pre-treatment

Theoneste Rutayisire, work title: Black soldier fly larvae treatment of biowaste – Process evaluation and pathogen inactivation with focus in faecal sludge management in low-income countries

Finalised as co-supervisor

Alice Isibika, 2023, Use of pre-treatments and substrate blending to enhance process efficiency in black soldier fly larvae composting of food industry waste

Prithvi Simha, 2021, Alkaline Urine Dehydration : how to dry source-separated human urine and recover nutrients?

Luis Fernando Perez Mercado, 2020, Farm-based technologies for management of risks from irrigation with wastewater-polluted sources in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Finalised

Sara Holm, 2025, MSc - Black soldier fly larvae and T. reesei treatment – exploring the fate of the mycotoxin patulin

Nikos Gyftopoulos, 2024, MSc - Investigating frass recirculation in BSFL treatment as a method for improved sanitization

Hilda Anderberg, 2023, MSc - BSF-colony management efficiency at a large scale fly larvae composting company in Kenya – A field study

Maria Mattsson, 2023, MSc - Nedbrytning av växtskyddsmedel i fluglarvskompostering

Madeleine Gobl, 2022, MSc -  Predicting Treatment Performance Using Ternary Plot: Macronutrients’ impact on biomass conversion efficiency

Daniel Ismail Eriksson, 2021, MSC - Design and evaluation of black soldier fly larvae and frass compost separator

Robert Almqvist, 2020, MSc - Fly larvae composting of fibrous food industry waste - Impact of pre-treatment

Nils Ewald, 2019, MSc - Fatty acid composition of black soldier fly larvae - impact of rearing substrate

Kristina Lundgren, 2019, MSc -  Impact of fly specific bacteria on fly larvae composting

Solveig Johannesdottir, 2017, MSc - Uppskalning av fluglarvskompostering - Luftningsbehov och ventilation

Thabani Eddington Chirere, 2016, MSc - A way out of food insecurity and poverty - The potential of using fly larvae composted faeces as organic fertiliser in sub-Saharan African agriculture

Bram Dortmans, 2015, MSc - Valorisation of Organic Waste – Effect of the Feeding Regime on Process Parameters in a Continuous Black Soldier Fly Larvae Composting System

Modibo Sidibe, 2014, MSc - Comparative study of bark, bio-char, activated charcoal filters for upgrading grey-water : from a hygiene aspect

Ramiyeh Molaei, 2014, MSc - Pathogen and indicator organisms removal in artificial greywater subjected to aerobic treatment : comparison of four filter media

Alexander Myrsten, 2012, MSc - Maskkompostering för behandling av organiskt avfall

A complete list of my publications can be found on Research.

Editorials in Journal of Insects as feed and food

Lalander, C., Barrett, M., Gasco, L., Lopes, I.G., Picard, C.J., Tomberlin, J.K. and van Huis, A., 2025. Working out the bugs: navigating challenges and unlocking opportunities in the insect industry. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-20250001 

Wiklicky V, Guidini Lopes I, Lalander C. 2024. Enhancing reproducibility in black soldier fly research. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 2024; 10: 359-362. https://brill.com/view/journals/jiff/10/3/article-p359_1.xml 

Lalander, C. and Vinnerås, B., 2022. Actions needed before insects can contribute to a real closed-loop circular economy in the EU. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 8: 337-342. https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2022.x003 

Book chapters

Lalander C, Lopes IG. 2024. Advances in substrate source composition for rearing black soldier fly larvae as a protein source. Insects as alternative sources of protein for food and feed. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

Peer-reviewed articles in international journals

Lopes, I.G., Wiklicky, V. and Lalander, C., 2025. Bioconversion of aquaculture waste blended with vegetable by-products using Hermetia illucens larvae: Process parameters and larval quality. Aquaculture Reports 43: 102961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102961

Lindberg, L., Vinnerås, B. and Lalander, C., 2025. Process efficiency and the impact of enzyme and frass additions in black soldier fly larvae composting with fibrous plant-based waste. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 13: 118061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.118061

Lalander, C., Lopes, I.G., Gyftopoulos, N. and Vinnerås, B., 2025. The impact of scale and frass recirculation on pathogen inactivation dynamics in black soldier fly larvae bioconversion. Frontiers in Microbiology 16. 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1539486

Lopes I.G., Wiklicky V., Vinnerås B., Yong J. W. H., Lalander C., 2024. Recirculating frass from food waste bioconversion using black soldier fly larvae: Impacts on process efficiency and product quality. Journal of Environmental Management; 366: 121869

Lopes, I., Wiklicky, V., Ermolaev, E., Lalander, C., 2023. Dynamics of black soldier fly composting - impact of substrate properties and rearing conditions on process efficiency. Waste management, 172, 25-32

Isibika, A., Simha, P., Vinnerås, B., Zurbrügg, C., Kibazohi, O., Lalander, C., 2023. Food industry waste - An opportunity for black soldier fly larvae protein production in Tanzania. Science of The Total Environment 858, 159985

Lopes, I.G., Yong, J.W.H. and Lalander, C., 2022. Frass derived from black soldier fly larvae treatment of biodegradable wastes. A critical review and future perspectives. Waste Management 142: 65-76

Lindberg, L., Ermolaev, E., Vinnerås, B. and Lalander, C., 2022. Process efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in black soldier fly larvae composting of fruit and vegetable waste with and without pre-treatment. Journal of Cleaner Production 318: 130552. 

Lindberg, L., Vinnerås, B. and Lalander, C., 2022. Process efficiency in relation to enzyme pre-treatment duration in black soldier fly larvae composting. Waste Management 137: 121-127

Isibika, A., Vinnerås, B., Kibazohi, O., Zurbrügg, C. and Lalander, C., 2021. Co-composting of banana peel and orange peel waste with fish waste to improve conversion by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae. Journal of Cleaner Production 318: 128570

Chirere T. E., Khalil, S., Lalander, C., 2021 Fertiliser effect on Swiss chard of black soldier fly larvae-frass compost made from food waste and faeces. Journal of insects as food and feed. 7(4): 457-469

Lopes I. G., Lalander C., Vidotti R. M., Vinnerås B., 2020 Reduction of bacteria in relation to feeding regimes when treating aquaculture waste in fly larvae composting. Frontiers in microbiology 11:1616

Lalander C., Evgheni E., Wiklicky V., Vinnerås B. 2020. Process efficiency and ventilation requirement in black soldier fly larvae composting of substrates with high water content. Science of the Total Environment 729: 138968

Lopes I. G., Lalander C., Vidotti R. M., Vinnerås B. 2020 Using Hermetia illucens larvae to process biowaste from aquaculture production. Journal of Cleaner Production 251: 119753

Ewald N., Vidakovic A., Langeland M., Kiessling A., Sampels S., Lalander C. 2020 Fatty acid composition of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) – Possibilities and limitations for modification through diet. Waste Management 102: 40-47

Isibika A., Vinnerås B., Kibazohi O., Zurbrügg C., Lalander C. 2019 Pre-treatment of banana peel to improve composting by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae. Waste Management 100: 151-160

Lalander, C., Diener, S., Zurbrügg, C., & Vinnerås, B. 2019. Effects of feedstock on larval development and process efficiency in waste treatment with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). Journal of Cleaner Production, 208: 211-219

Lalander, C., Nordberg, Å., Vinnerås, B. 2018. A comparison in product-value potential in four treatment strategies for food waste and faeces – assessing composting, fly larvae composting and anaerobic digestion. GCB Bioenergy. 10: 84-91

Lalander C., Senecal J., Gros Calvo M., Ahrens L., Josefsson S., et al. 2016. Fate of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in fly larvae composting. Science of the Total Environment. 565: 279-86

Lalander C., Komakech A. J., Vinnerås B.. 2015. Vermicomposting as manure management strategy for urban small-holder animal farms – Kampala case study. Waste Management. 39: 96-103

Lalander C., Fidjeland J., Diener S., Eriksson S., Vinnerås B. 2015. High waste-to-biomass conversion and efficient Salmonella spp. reduction using black soldier fly for waste recycling. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 35: 261-71

Lalander C., Diener S., Magri M. E., Zurbrügg C., Lindström A., Vinnerås B. 2013. Faecal sludge management with the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) — From a hygiene aspect. Science of the Total Environment 458–460: 312-18