The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a fascinating insect that’s native to North America but found worldwide. :
Lifecycle: Black soldier flies have a four-stage lifecycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is where they consume organic waste, making them beneficial for waste management.
Diet: The larvae are voracious eaters of organic waste, including food scraps, manure, and compost. They can consume large amounts of waste and convert it into biomass.
Benefits: They are highly efficient at converting organic waste into protein-rich larvae, which can be used as feed for livestock and fish, also the leftover of the degraded organic waste fed to the BSF known as FRASS is a rich organic fertilizer for planting diverse crops. This can help reduce the environmental impact of waste and provide a sustainable protein source.
Non-pest: Unlike other flies, adult black soldier flies do not bite or transmit diseases to humans. They are more interested in mating and laying eggs than bothering people.
Environmental Impact: Their larvae can reduce the volume of organic waste by up to 95% and produce less greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional waste disposal methods.
Commercial Uses: Due to their rapid growth and high protein content, black soldier fly larvae are increasingly being used in animal feed production, as well as for producing biofuels and other industrial products. Overall, black soldier flies play a valuable role in waste management, sustainable agriculture, and bioconversion of organic waste.
AGMART INSIGHT
ON BSF FARMING
Pig, poultry and fish farming are among the fastest growing agribusiness activities in Nigeria, but high cost of major feed protein ingredients, such as soyabean meal, groundnut cake and fishmeal hampers profitability and growth of smallholder production. Interest in insects as an alternative nutrient source is growing. Thus, Black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens L, larvae farming has gained the attention of Agmart foods and farms limited.
OUR JOURNEY
Starting off was not an easy task, a lot of surveys, trainings and recruiting capable hands had to be done to prepare for the task ahead. The founder of Agmart is so passionate about cubing the menace of food insecurity and poverty alleviation and as such was ready to take the ‘bull by the horn’.
We started our BSF larvae production with 2kg of pupae in the Month of January 2024, and within 21 days we doubled to 4kg pupae. Within this period, we learnt from our mistakes and created our own path into BSF production.
We put back all we had (4kg pupae) into production, and within February and March 2024 we churned out over 50 kg larvae. Presently we run a capacity capable of producing 80-100kg larvae monthly.
AGMART’S TASK AHEAD
Agmart foods and farms limited envisions sustainability in all aspects of Agriculture; a production system that integrates livestock farming, crop farming and environmental waste management which will equate to affordable and available livestock feeds and by implication affordable livestock products (eggs, meat, fish). This also ensures affordable organic fertilizer (FRASS from BSF) for crop farming.