THE black soldier fly (BSF), an insect (with wasp-like appearance) that feeds on waste, will be used as a waste-management mechanism at the new Lae Market, an official says.
National Agriculture Research Institute (Nari) deputy director-general Dr Peter Gendua said they were working with the Lae City Authority (LCA) to build a BSF farm within the new market facility.
Gendua said this would provide a cheaper and environmentally-friendly option for waste management.
He said Nari would assist LCA by doing waste-mapping of the Lae market. This involves identifying the different types of wastes produced, then establishing the appropriate ones to feed the BSF farm.
He said more work was needed to educate market users, vendors and the city authority on how to separate different wastes.
Gendua said as part of an ongoing BSF research project, Nari had already done waste-mapping for manufacturing firms like Goodman Fielders, city markets and estates.
“The project has shown that the BSF can turn waste into direct feed or a high-protein source added to a feed,” he said.
With over 15-years of research put into this insect, Gendua highlighted many benefits, including its high waste consumption rate, better protein substitute for livestock feed and great for improving soil fertility by at least 50 per cent, resulting in better plant growth and higher yields.
The BSF value chain will be one of the main highlights of the National Agriculture Research Systems Innovation Show on May 12 in Lae.
