Maize and soybeans are essential for poultry and pork feed, but rising costs are negatively affecting livestock farmers’ productivity and competitiveness, pushing them to seek alternatives. Their search has led to the black soldier fly, increasingly recognized as a viable protein source for animal feed, suitable for livestock and aquaculture. With Nigeria’s insect-based feed market projected to reach $250 million to $1.2 billion by 2030, DANIEL ESSIET reports that black soldier fly farming is emerging as a promising business opportunity
These are certainly not the best of times for the global livestock, poultry and fishery industries, including Nigeria. For the industries and the various operators across their value chains, maintaining high levels of productivity and sustaining growth and competitiveness have become a herculean task. The skyrocketing price of raw materials for livestock feed has been significantly impacting the growth and profitability of livestock companies.
The thing is that the supply of essential raw materials such as corn, soybeans and fish meal has been inadequate, and when they are available, their prices are well beyond the reach of most livestock farmers, who primarily depend on maize and soybean meal for their feed production. In Nigeria, where these farmers appear to be worse it, maize, for instance, currently costs N910, 000 per ton, while soybeans costs N714, 000 per metric ton.
But it took the ‘2023 Poultry Outlook’ to draw attention to what is perhaps the sunny side to a depressing situation where maize and soybean meal prices have soared in both domestic and international markets. While highlighting the macro issues influencing poultry feed production, the 2023 Poultry Outlook indicated that the poultry and poultry feed sectors are facing challenges due to elevated and fluctuating costs associated with feed, energy and transportation.
However, the report, on a brighter side, said due to high cost of raw materials, utilising alternative ingredients may prove to be the most economical option in feed formulations. This no doubt, bodes well for livestock farmers, particularly those in Nigeria, who have been agonizing over surging costs of feed, which mainly consists of maize and soybean meal, and have since been seeking alternative feed resources.
For instance, the President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Chief Sunday Ezeobiora, lamented the detrimental impact of record-high prices of maize and soybeans on the Nigerian poultry industry. He told The Nation that it has, for instance, led to significant job losses, adding that a large portion of the soybeans produced locally is currently being sent overseas, resulting in challenges for producers due to reduced domestic supply.
Two crucial ingredients in the formulation of poultry feeds are soybeans and maize, with the poultry industry in Nigeria said to be requiring over four million metric tons of maize each year to meet the demand of farmers. Last year, soybean meal production in Nigeria was estimated at 688, 000 metric tons, according to Statista, a global business intelligence firm. Between 2010 and 2023, it increased in output, reaching the highest growth in 2015, at about 46 per cent compared to the preceding year.
But, as Ezeobiora earlier pointed out, a large portion of the locally-produced soybeans is currently being exported, resulting in challenges for producers due to a reduced domestic supply. “If not because of the Presidential Order to allow imports of soybeans into Nigeria, the price of a ton of soybeans would have gone up to N1million. The announcement stopped the price from moving up,” the PAN President complained.
Black soldier fly offers promises
Researchers are said to have identified the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) as a more nutritious and effective substitute for conventional protein ingredients in livestock feed. According to a report from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), larvae possess higher crude protein content than conventional fish and soybeans, which are noted to have 45 per cent protein.
A European Union (EU)-funded project, PROteINSECT, also confirmed the promising potential of insect protein as a feed source for pigs, poultry and fish in the EU, advocating for legislative changes to allow the use of insects in animal feeds. However, EU legislation currently forbids the incorporation of insect-derived protein in animal feed, except for feed designated for fish or shellfish.
But, there is an increasing focus on the potential of insects to contribute to protein production for animal feed while simultaneously addressing the issue of organic waste management. In the UK and EU, strict regulations dictate the materials that can be utilised as substrates for rearing insects for protein purposes. Importantly, any waste streams that contain or could potentially contain animal by-products (ABPs) are not allowed for this purpose.
Fera Science, which is recognised for its worldwide expertise in safety assessments and quality data, has conducted research on the implications of using insects as a protein source for livestock as part of the PROteINSECT project. Collaborating with members of the food industry on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Fera Science focused on assessing the safety of rearing black soldier fly larvae.
A joint FSA/Fera dissemination statement on “Assess the Safety of Currently non-permitted Waste Streams to be Used for Rearing Insects for Feed,” noted: “The mass rearing of insect larvae for protein in animal feeds is an emerging technology that will be vital in replacing the ‘protein gap’ with a sustainable source. The use of waste streams to rear insect larvae is a further advantage of this technology, potentially revalorising waste that may otherwise have been incinerated or moved to landfill, for example.”
Samples of black soldier fly raised on various substrates were collected for chemical analysis following the feeding period. The analysis included the larvae and the substrates, assessing factors such as dry matter, crude protein, ether extracts, ash, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, flavonoids, minerals, and aflatoxins.
The results from laboratory experiments revealed that readily available organic waste streams in urban environments of developing countries can be successfully utilized to produce high-quality black soldier fly larvae. These larvae have the potential to act as a substitute for other protein sources, whether animal-or plant-derived, in commercial livestock feed.
FAO backs use of insects’ protein
In the light of the increasing expenses associated with traditional feed and protein sources, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has endorsed the use of insects’ protein, recognising their potential to alleviate the challenges faced by livestock and fish farmers in West Africa, particularly in terms of meat and egg production and income stability.
Sometime in 2022, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) also initiated a three-year project focused on black soldier fly to enhance urban sanitation and manage bio-waste in Ghana, Mali, and Niger. This initiative aimed at establishing aqua-feed value chains while maximising the benefits of BSF bio-waste processing.
The project aspired to elevate the livelihoods of smallholder producers of chicken, fish and vegetables in these countries through the utilisation of BSF, i.e. black soldier fly for bio-waste processing.
Outlook for BSF in Nigeria positive
In Nigeria, the outlook for scaling BSF is positive. BSF is a high-performance protein source with potentially positive impacts on animal health. In Lagos, for instance, the rapid urbanisation and the subsequent increase in organic waste present considerable environmental challenges with BSF farming, however, offering a practical solution to these issues.
While the practice of BSF farming is currently in its early stages within the state, it holds significant promise due to the high output of organic waste and the rising demand for protein. BSF larvae are particularly effective for use in aquaculture, poultry and pig farming, as their elevated protein and fat content make them an excellent feed source, promoting healthy growth and development in livestock.
Environmental benefits of BSF farming substantial.
Currently, Lagos State is integrating BSF into feed production processes. Recently, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food System, Abisola Olusanya, expressed concerns with the dual challenges of food security and waste management, and supports innovative solutions essential for addressing these pressing issues.
She is encouraging young entrepreneurs capable of using BSFs to revolutionise waste management and animal nutrition. This was after she found out that the insects provide an excellent alternative to traditional animal feed ingredients such as fishmeal and soybean meal. However, her emphasis is on volume and quality, alongside commercial viability.
Incidentally, Olusanya has been in search of innovations that will help improve feed conversion ratios, reducing the overall production cost in the poultry and aquaculture sectors where Lagos State has comparative advantage.
As sign of the increasing recognition and acceptance BSF as a viable alternative for soybeans, the founder of Entojutu Sustainable Development Foundation, Oluwatobi Adegbite, is using BSF to produce animal feed, which is intrinsically linked to food security. He said BSF farming not only supports food and feed security, but also contributes to environmental sustainability and economic development.
As a result of his work on BSF and natural solutions, Adegbite has put Nigeria on the international livestock feed map. Explaining why he is exploring natural solutions, he said: “I was a conventional farmer and quite young. My first farm was in a rural village. I was thinking I could change the agricultural landscape. I went there with my shoulders high, thinking that everybody around there was poor.
“After my first year running the farm, I failed. I started with 20 acres. I was already consulting. That experience drove me to self-reflection. The outcome of my self-examination revealed that there was a system problem with the way agriculture is being practiced. Although I didn’t give up, the team I started with left me. I was left alone.
“Despite this, I also thought that it can only be better. So, I went ahead and added more land and I did 32.5 acres the next year. It was better than the first year, but it revealed so much system challenges in terms of inadequacies for local farmers.” He said consequently, he began to use nature-based approaches and low-cost innovation to address low agricultural and livestock yield for farmers.
Adegbite discovered that the high protein content of insects can provide animal feed at a low cost. He breeds black soldier flies to grow food for poultry and fish and get organic fertiliser. According to him, the use of BSF larvae as the main alternative source of livestock feed can reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported feed material, while also helping to stabilise meat prices and encourage a resilient agricultural sector.
Indeed, with Adegbite, BSF farming is emerging as a significant segment in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable agriculture. He has been harnessing the potential of the insect to tackle the dual challenges of waste management and the escalating demand for protein in animal diets.
With the rising demand for protein, BSF presents a sustainable and cost-effective protein source for animal feed. And in line with this, the Agricultural Social Entrepreneurship Foundation (ASEF International) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with New Generation Nutrition (Netherlands) and FIDAS Africa to provide training on insect farming for Africans.
The Chief Executive of FIDAS Africa, Omolola Oludare, said the primary objective of the training programme was to empower 100,000 Africans by providing them with income opportunities in the insect value chain. Out of these slots, 40,000 have been reserved specifically for Nigerians. The platform also aims to train 100 specialists and experts in the value chain who will be deployed for gainful employment across Africa.
The Chief Executive of ASEF, Rosemary Omoyeni Adebayo, reiterated that the organisation’s role is to promote agricultural development and contribute to food security in Africa. She revealed that ASEF will be offering a 90 per cent subsidy for the training programme, making it more accessible to Africans.
She further stated that the foundation has reached out to 9, 000 religious organisations, governors, relevant ministries and financial institutions to garner support for youths and women to participate in the training.
According to the report from “How We Made it in Africa,” the potential for insect-based animal feeds and their by-products in Nigeria could range from $250 million to $1.2 billion by 2030. This assessment is derived from a study by Manufacturing Africa, a UK government-supported initiative focused on enhancing the manufacturing industry.
The report noted that Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million and an annual growth rate of around three per cent, is under increasing pressure regarding its food supply. This situation highlights the necessity for alternative animal feed sources to reduce the competition between food and feed.
The Global Feed Survey 2020 further indicated that Africa’s demand for animal feed stands at 43.7 million tons, with Nigeria accounting for approximately five to 10 per cent of this requirement. Sadly, feed costs are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations, driving the demand for cheaper and more stable alternative feed sources.
According to Cross Boundary Group, an international practice firm, based in Kenya, BSF has potential as an alternative and sustainable protein source for animal feed production, organic fertiliser, and a solution for waste management.
The group report said: “Black soldier flies are easy to rear given that they require no water input, breed prolifically, and can eat almost anything. In addition, unlike more commonly used protein sources for animal feed such as soya and fish meal, they do not compete with human consumption demand. They are therefore not subject to (seasonal) price fluctuations.
“Further, BSF are tropical insects that survive in warm climates, making most African countries suitable for rearing them. The potential of black soldiers to address local and sustainable input sourcing, which is crucial to addressing food security concerns in Africa, is undeniable.”
The report, however, said, “It is important to question if our current approach toward scaling BSF processing models is the most effective and efficient way to fully unlock this potential.”
