Disposing of waste into landfills is costly, and not only that, but requires a very considerable amount of space. Furthermore, landfilling organics can create anaerobic conditions which lead to methane emissions, contributing to climate change and global warming, disturbing the local environmental conditions. Food waste is reaching values of 45.4% of the food streams in South Africa, showing the necessity of action in this field.

Apart from reducing food waste, improving hygiene and environmental conditions and creating a new resource for further uses, the Black Soldier Fly treatment produces larvae that contain many nutrients for several purposes.

The defatted and grinded larvae meal is rich in high quality protein. The meal can be used as a replacement for fish and soya meals, therefore reducing the use of antibiotics for these purposes. Furthermore, the oil extracted lauric acid, a medium chain triglyceride with various pharmaceutical, food / feed applications; offering an alternative to less sustainable oils from wild fish, coconut and palm oil. Grubs are rich in proteins, oil and calcium and can be used as animal feed as well. A mixture of the excreta, insect exoskeletons and food residues can be used as a good soil fertiliser, and chitin (extracted larvae exoskeleton) can be applied in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, animal feed and human food .

This case study has been created as part of Footprints Africa's work to build a comprehensive open-source database of circular economy initiatives in Africa. We are doing this in collaboration with the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), as part of our programme to support the circular economy transition in Africa.

Image retrieved from https://inseco.co.za/