Current status and future prospects of industrial-scale farming of black soldier fly

China faces significant pressure in managing approximately 120 million tons of food waste annually. As a major global producer of aquatic and livestock products, the country also represents the largest consumer of protein feed. In recent years, growing emphasis on sustainable development has spurred the rapid emergence of the insect protein industry worldwide. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.), a saprophagous insect from the Stratiomyidae family, offers a promising approach to waste valorization while generating high-quality insect protein and delivering substantial ecological and economic benefits. Nevertheless, despite China's considerable resource utilization demands, a noticeable gap remains in the commercial-scale farming and industrial development of black soldier flies compared to advanced regions such as Europe and the United States. This review comprehensively analyzes the current state of black soldier fly farming domestically and internationally. It summarizes the characteristics of black soldier fly enterprises worldwide, examines regional industrial development environments, and identifies key challenges requiring breakthroughs. Furthermore, the review outlines the opportunities and challenges facing China's black soldier fly sector and proposes recommendations for its future development. The findings aim to provide a valuable reference for standardizing black soldier fly production, developing derived products, and promoting their utilization.