AN INNOVATIVE WAY OF TURNING TRASH TO TREASURE

This photo was taken during the commissioning of the BSF Excellent Centre in Mbeere North Constituency

Establishment of a Black Soldier Fly Excellent Centre in Mbeere North - Kenya

Last week, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Kenya Office, through funding from The Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change established a Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Excellent Centre in Mbeere North.

Partner:  Fair Climate Network

Africa, with its diverse ecosystems and rich agricultural potential, faces a paradox. On one hand, there is tremendous amount of biowaste generated from the agricultural sector. Approximately, one third of food produced globally is lost or wasted resulting in economic losses. At the same time, there is a constant search for sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change, revive soils, strengthen food production, and provide the population with healthy and nutritious diets at an affordable cost.

Rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth have led to an exponential increase in waste generation, including food waste and organic matter. From research, in 2016, Sub-Saharan Africa generated an estimated 174 million tonnes of waste at a rate of 0.46 kg per capita per day, and this is projected to triple by the year 2050,  making the continent the world’s fastest-growing waste-generating region by 2050. Organic waste currently constitutes over 60% of total waste produced in Sub-Saharan Africa, with agriculture being one of the main sectors generating the largest quantities. If left unmanaged, this waste will strain the already-limited resources and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

The diversion of waste is expected to improve the socio-economic status of the continent, i.e. by creating jobs in the waste-to-value sector. Moreover, the diversion would minimise the environmental and health impacts associated with the current poor solid waste management practices. The need for sustainable solutions that address both biowaste management and climate change has never been more urgent.

As Africa grapples with the challenges of sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate resilience, the black soldier fly offers a captivating solution.

Native to many regions of Africa, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a non-pest insect known for its remarkable waste-conversion abilities. With its voracious appetite for organic waste, rapid growth rate, and nutrient-rich larvae, this insect offers a multi-faceted solution to the twin challenge of biowaste management and climate change.

The black soldier fly (BSF) lays its eggs in decaying matter where the larvae, the true stars of the show, develop. As they feed, the larvae break down a wide range of organic materials, from food scraps to animal manure, agricultural residues, and even sewage sludge. The larvae convert the waste materials into two highly valuable resources for the agriculture sector: protein-rich larvae biomass and nutrient-rich residue or ‘frass’. The nutrient-dense biomass can be harvested and used as livestock or fish feed or converted into biofuels. Furthermore, the larvae themselves are a protein-rich food source, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock feed. The second product, the nutrient-rich frass, can be utilised as a potent fertiliser, thereby replacing synthetic fertilisers that contribute to climate change through high energy consumption at manufacturing stage, nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions during usage, and soil health degradation as well as  water pollution post-usage.

Besides reducing landfills and greenhouse gas emissions, the project will accrue the following in the long run

a.    Gender inclusion and employment creation: Using black soldier flies presents an opportunity to empower women and youth across the agricultural value chain, from waste management to larvae harvesting, processing and distribution. FCN intends to train women and youth on how to sort and compost organic waste and use black soldier flies to generate organic products that can be used on farms and in animal feed. This will empower the local communities, support women’s and youth’s economic empowerment, foster economic growth, and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 – Sustainable Consumption and Production; SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 5 – Gender Equality; and SDG 13 – Climate Action. That said, it will be critical to provide training and awareness campaigns to ensure women can capitalise on the opportunity to use black soldier flies in agriculture and for the population to embrace this as a job creation opportunity.

b.    Biowaste to feed: The organic waste collected will be channelled into a black soldier fly larvae production unit, where the black soldier flies will mate to produce the larvae which in turn will feed on the waste. Within weeks, these ravenous larvae will reduce the waste by over 50%, and, in the process, convert it to high-protein biomass. Once fully developed, the nutrient-packed larvae will be harvested. The biomass and larvae are key ingredients in livestock and fish feed. These will be sold to farmers in Mbeere North Constituency where the Excellence Centre was established reducing their reliance on traditional, resource-intensive proteins like soy and fishmeal. Through this, local farmers will have access to affordable and sustainable feed options, enhancing the productivity of their livestock and boosting rural economies. This will also reduce the spread of pests and diseases in the constituency as the project is envisaged to clear all the waste produced in the market places and homes.

c.    Soil enrichment: Post-feeding, the frass left behind by the larvae is an organic fertiliser, which FCN intends sells to the local farmers to sustain the project. Rich in nutrients, these nutrient-rich organic fertilisers will provide a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers.

d.    Carbon sequestration: By diverting biowaste from landfills, where it would decay and release methane (a greenhouse gas over 80 times more harmful than carbon dioxide)  – FCN will use  the black soldier fly larvae to combat climate change significantly. Furthermore, reducing the demand for traditional animal feed will alleviate pressure on the already fragile ecosystems and reduce the carbon footprint associated with livestock feed production.

The established excellence centre will be used as a demonstration site where farmers will be able to learn sustainable agriculture in a real scenario. The site will have some crop eg bean planted and managed using both frass and synthetic fertilizer. The results will be documented and displayed for further research.

As we stand at the crossroads of waste management, sustainable agriculture, and climate change, the black soldier fly serves as a beacon of hope. This is because of BSF ability to convert biowaste into valuable agricultural inputs, their immense potential to transform economies, improve food security, and combat climate change.