Mapping Research Trends on Black Soldier Fly Larvae Oil as Animal Feed: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2021 to 2026

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and cost-effective animal feed has spurred research into alternative feed ingredients such as black soldier fly larvae oil. This study sought to delineate the development, intellectual structure, and research trends of black soldier fly larvae oil as animal feed through a bibliometric approach. Scientific publications were sourced from the Scopus database and restricted to English-language articles published between 2021 and 2026. A total of 643 articles from 235 sources were analyzed using Bibliometrix, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer software. The analysis encompassed annual publication trends, pertinent publication sources, influential documents, country contributions, keyword co-occurrence, thematic structures, and thematic evolution. These findings indicate that research on black soldier fly larvae oil is a nascent yet rapidly advancing field. The Journal of Insects as Food and Feed emerged as the most prolific source, while highly cited documents were predominantly published in Aquaculture, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, and Sustainability. Country contribution analysis revealed that this topic has developed on a global scale, with significant participation from China, European countries, the United States, and several Southeast Asian nations. Keyword analysis demonstrated that the research field remains closely linked to the black soldier fly, black soldier fly larvae, insect meal, growth performance, sustainability, bioconversion, and circular economy. However, recent thematic evolution has highlighted the emergence of insect oil as a specific research focus. These findings suggest that black soldier fly larvae oil holds considerable promise as an alternative lipid source in animal feed. Future research should focus on fatty acid profiles, optimal inclusion levels, animal performance, product quality, gut health, immune responses, and environmental and economic assessments.