Scalability of BSF innovation faces negative cultural attitudes

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OPINION

By Andrew Bakoraho Kakura

Proven as a multifaceted, nature-based based and cost-friendly remedy badly needed to turn waste into useful resources, Black Soldier Fly technology (BSF), if fully embraced, will not only address the security of land and food but also provide jobs, incomes, and reverse land degradation through regenerative agricultural practices like poultry, fish farming and vegetable growing.

Also, a technology highly touted as the engine of the circular economy gets ushered into Uganda when waste management is growing a big problem due to rapid and partly unplanned urbanisation, with significant challenges in funding of waste collection, disposal, and recycling, particularly in Kampala.

The local governments often enter into partnerships with the private sector to effectively manage garbage, previously regarded as a health menace but slowly turning into a game-changer in the reduction of greenhouse gases.

Whereas architects of BSF innovations in both the Government and Private Sector have introduced new regulations aiming at establishing an integrated waste management system, emphasising waste minimisation, recycling, and a move towards a circular economy to reduce pollution and protect public health, the policy framework and public awareness remain weak.

The above has been exacerbated by negative cultural attitudes, which significantly impact black soldier fly farming through prejudices and biases of disgust that limit acceptance and social structures needed for information sharing, critical for the enhancement of adoption rates.

Although farmers fight hard to eliminate the strong and very unpleasant smell associated with insect larvae growing processes, the stench hardly goes away completely, thus inviting rebukes and resentment from communities.

During jointly organized BUGS/BSF project workshop by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), with assistance of its implementers, Africa Circular, and supported by PREVENT Waste Alliance, Eclose, CARBON TURNAROUND and Eawag, in which both the launch of BSF technology Policy Guide and its Roadmap were highlighted, members in my group discussion (2nd Group) unanimously agreed that among other challenges, stench produced when growing BSF larvae specifically containers with rotting organic materials meant to attract female fly that lay eggs continue to raise community concerns.

The workshop held at Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC), Kajjansi, Uganda, last month was attended by key stakeholders, including organisations from the private sector, academia, civil society, and public institutions jointly engaged in a circular economy.

However, the reechoed repulsion has not stopped some communities from embracing insect larvae growing as a cost-effective and sustainable protein source not only in Uganda but rather in East African regions, where its use for animal feed and organic fertiliser is reportedly growing steadily.

The adoption of the BSF technology is premised on its sound viability and sustainability which according to The Bug Picture, CARE’s project implementing private sector partner, revealed that in addition to increased access to organic and heathier fertilizers, pest control mechanisms, reduced reliance on chemical products,  direct profits from selling the fertilizer and chickens, farmers indirectly profited from BSF by reducing poultry feed costs by 69% per week on average, and increased profit margins on chickens by 58% per chicken. “Chickens fed with BSF larvae attain market weight within four months, compared to six months on baseline.” The source further indicated.

With BSF larvae feed readily available for Ugandan poultry farmers, the demand for silver fish (Mukene) previously used as potential feeds will reduce, relieving more than 30% of Ugandan children reported malnourished due to a lack of foods rich in protein, calcium, and other crucial for proper growth.

Besides enhanced Public education and awareness campaigns on the use of BSF, and dangers associated with improper waste disposal and littering, other nature based remedies including adequate infrastructure (landfills and collection vehicles, meant to handle the large volume of waste generated); Segregation of waste rightly at the source for easy recycling and processing; Allocation of sufficient funds to facilitate investment in necessary infrastructure, technology;  Strengthening of weak policy and its weak enforcement were among critical suggested solutions urgently needed to promote the use of BSF technology in Uganda by the participants.

The writer is researcher at Alliance for Enviro Save Uganda