Last Wednesday, I visited the Black Soldier Fly for Bio-Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability (BBEST) project site at Nsawam to have a firsthand understanding and observe its operations.
The facility, led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), is demonstrating how insect farming can help address challenges such as waste management, high animal feed costs, declining soil fertility and youth unemployment through practical, science-based solutions.
Inside the adultarium
My first stop was the Adultarium, which is a controlled space where adult black soldier flies are kept.
Unlike the common housefly, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) does not transmit disease and does not feed at the adult stage. Its primary role is reproduction.
Here, female flies lay clusters of eggs — between 250 and 500 at a time — carefully deposited near an organic matter.
These eggs are collected and transferred to the Larverium (incubation unit), where they are kept under monitored conditions until they hatch.
Within three to four days, the eggs hatch into cream-coloured, legless larvae that immediately begin feeding.
From waste to wealth
Once hatched, the larvae are transferred into containers and fed organic waste, particularly fruit waste.
For approximately 14 to 21 days, depending on temperature and feed quality, the larvae consume large volumes of waste.
Under optimal conditions, some mature in as little as 10 days. During this period, they grow rapidly, shedding their outer skin several times.
As they feed, they convert organic waste into biomass.
By maturity, what would have ended up in landfills has been transformed into high-value protein.
At the harvest stage, the larvae are humanely processed, typically through heat treatment, and then dried and processed into animal feed ingredients.
One of the most notable aspects of the project is the nutritional profile of the dried larvae, which contain between 40 and 45 per cent protein, along with essential amino acids that support animal growth.
For poultry, fish and pig farmers facing high feed costs, this offers a viable alternative to soybean and fish meal.
The larvae are protein-rich and produced locally, reducing reliance on imports.
Research trials under the project have shown performance comparable to conventional protein sources.
Farmers using black soldier fly larvae in feed formulations report healthy growth rates and efficient feed conversion.
The frass
Equally significant is what remains after the larvae feed, which is the frass. Frass is the nutrient-rich organic residue produced during the feeding process. Instead of being discarded, it is processed and used as organic fertiliser.
At the BBEST site, the Production Manager of the BSF unit, Amuetey Nagetey, indicated that frass application in tomato cultivation had resulted in yield increases of more than 80 per cent in demonstration plots.
Beyond improving yields, frass enhances soil structure, increases water retention and stimulates beneficial microbial activity.
This dual output — protein for livestock and fertiliser for crops — firmly places the project within a circular bioeconomy model: waste feeds larvae, larvae feed animals, frass feeds crops.
Environmental impact, urban sanitation
In Ghana, organic waste management remains a persistent challenge.
Large volumes of fruit and vegetable waste from markets and households often end up decomposing in open dumps, contributing to methane emissions and environmental pollution.
By redirecting this waste into production, the BBEST project reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves sanitation.
Organic waste becomes a resource rather than a burden.
The environmental impact is tangible: reduced landfill pressure, improved community sanitation and a lower carbon footprint in feed production.
The facility operates with strong scientific discipline.
Temperature is monitored, feeding schedules are structured, and growth is tracked daily.
Quality testing ensures that the final product meets required standards.
The technology is scalable.
With increased investment, production capacity could expand significantly to meet growing demand from livestock farmers.
The collaboration between IITA and NORAD brings together research expertise, development support and local implementation capacity — a combination that strengthens long-term sustainability.
Beyond production, the project is building technical skills and creating awareness among young people interested in agribusiness.
At a time when youth unemployment remains a concern, insect farming offers a new and practical opportunity.
The BBEST project demonstrates how innovation can support sustainable agriculture in Ghana.
It presents a system where waste becomes a resource, protein is produced efficiently and locally, and soil health is improved naturally.
If scaled and supported, black soldier fly technology could play a significant role in strengthening food systems while promoting environmental sustainability.
Reimagining agriculture
Beyond its immediate outputs, the initiative also signals a shift in how agriculture is perceived in the country.
Rather than relying solely on traditional inputs and linear production systems, the insect economy introduces a regenerative approach that maximises value at every stage.
Markets that once struggled with waste disposal challenges could become suppliers of raw material for insect production units.
Livestock farmers burdened by fluctuating feed prices could stabilise their operations with locally sourced protein, while crop farmers battling declining soil fertility could adopt frass as a cost-effective organic amendment.
The model also aligns with broader global conversations around climate-smart agriculture and sustainable food systems.
As populations grow and pressure on natural resources intensifies, alternative protein sources such as insect-based feed are gaining increasing recognition.
What is happening at Nsawam, therefore, represents more than a pilot project; it is a glimpse into the future of agriculture — one that is efficient, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh