Kenya is showing how black soldier fly larvae can transform food waste into a highly efficient, low-impact protein source, opening the door to more sustainable nutrition for animals and potentially humans.
“These insects turn low-value waste into high-quality nutrition with extraordinary efficiency,” said Nina de Groot, head of operations at InsectiPro, which operates one of Africa’s largest black soldier fly farms.
At a single facility outside Nairobi, larvae consume about 16.5 tonnes of crop waste daily and convert nearly all of it into protein-rich biomass. The insects grow to harvest size in roughly two weeks, require little land or water, and emit far fewer greenhouse gases than traditional livestock. Already widely used in animal feed, companies are now exploring their use in protein bars, flours and other foods, signalling a scalable solution for feeding a growing global population while reducing waste.
