Not to Waste an Opportunity: Transforming Urban Food Systems in Kenya with Black Soldier Fly Innovations
Authors: Danny Coyne; Eva Ivy Nyambura; Newton Nyagah; Linda Gatwiri; James Kisaakye; Emily Anyango; James Ndungu; Martha Awinoh
24 June 2026, Africa: Every day, Nairobi generates approximately 2,400 metric tonnes of waste. Apart from running out of space for where to put this waste, we are simultaneously grappling with rising food insecurity, shrinking agricultural land, water scarcity, and high youth unemployment. Although these challenges are often addressed separately, a growing coalition of researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community organizations is advancing a different view: that the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) offers a single, integrated innovation capable of addressing them in tandem by converting organic waste into valuable animal feed and organic fertilizer, while also generating green jobs.
This momentum was reinforced during a two-day stakeholder workshop convened by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) from 19th –20th February, where more than 15 organizations explored how to join forces in using BSF systems to reshape urban waste management and strengthen food systems.
The discussions marked a significant breakthrough, with stakeholders converging on shared opportunities across the BSF value chain and urban agriculture systems. A strong consensus emerged around the idea of a school-centered ecosystem as the most strategic entry point for implementation, with youth positioned as a catalytic force for scaling impact. Participants also committed to follow-up engagements to refine and advance the emerging concept into actionable programming.
At the heart of the proposed approach is a school-centered BSF ecosystem that integrates education and awareness, waste management, food production, and youth employment. In this model, schools are not only learning spaces but also active nodes within a circular economy. School gardens provide platforms for sustainable food production and climate-smart agriculture learning, while school canteens generate organic waste streams that feed into BSF production systems. BSF training centres would equip young people with practical skills in insect-based agriculture, waste valorization, and circular economy entrepreneurship. At the community level, production units would process organic waste into insect protein and frass fertilizer, creating employment opportunities while closing nutrient loops within urban systems.
Academic perspectives further highlighted the need to design systems suited to urban realities. Prof. Wesonga (JKUAT) pointed out that BSF systems must be adapted for environments characterized by limited land, space, and time, particularly in dense urban settings. Agricultural research shared during the workshop reinforced the multifunctional value of BSF outputs. Dr. James Kisaakye demonstrated that BSF frass, especially when combined with exuvia, not only enhances soil fertility but also significantly suppresses nematode pests, leading to improved yields and stronger economic and ecological outcomes. From an implementation standpoint, Joseph Kinyanjui from the Nairobi City County, emphasized that while technical solutions are available, the greatest challenge lies in bridging community awareness gaps and strengthening incentives for adoption.
Several cross-cutting insights emerged from the discussions. First, Kenya’s BSF sector is characterized by a significant mismatch between high market potential and extremely low current production, with demand estimated at around 80,000 metric tonnes annually, but with actual output around 1% of this potential. Second, youth participation remains constrained by high entry costs, although emerging technologies are beginning to lower these barriers and open new pathways for entrepreneurship. Third, effective waste management systems—particularly source segregation and reliable organic waste streams—are essential for BSF systems to function at scale, yet remain weakly implemented. Fourth, urban agriculture innovations highlighted during the workshop demonstrate strong potential for water-efficient and space-efficient food production systems, making them particularly relevant for urban centres suffering environmental stress. Finally, BSF-derived products, such as frass offer dual benefits, serving both as fertilizers and biological pest control agents, thereby delivering integrated agricultural value.
Despite this promise, several barriers continue to limit scale-up. These include inadequate waste segregation systems, high initial investment costs, inconsistent enforcement of waste management policies, limited public awareness, and fragmented infrastructure for waste collection and processing. The workshop brought together diverse perspectives that highlighted both the promise and constraints of scaling BSF systems.
From the private sector, Nicholas Ndekei (Zehunger solutions) emphasized the high entry barriers that have historically limited youth participation in waste valorization industries, noting that traditional systems require significant capital investment. He contrasted this with emerging low-cost innovations such as biopods, which allow youth to enter the sector with minimal resources, effectively democratizing access to circular economy opportunities. From a waste management perspective, Winnie Githinji (Harcourt Agri-Eco Farm) underscored the importance of functional systems and enforcement of existing regulations, emphasizing that effective waste solutions must be built on incentives where value is created rather than subsidized.
Building the Future of Circular Food Systems
The workshop concluded with a clear message: the technical foundations for scaling BSF systems in Kenya are present and already exist.
The country has active entrepreneurs, supportive research institutions, emerging policy frameworks, and growing demand for sustainable agricultural inputs and alternative proteins. What is needed now is stronger coordination, increased investment, and demonstration models capable of inspiring wider adoption. As cities across Africa grapple with mounting pressures from urbanization, climate change, and food insecurity, Black Soldier Fly systems offer a practical pathway toward more resilient and inclusive food systems. By transforming waste into opportunity, empowering youth entrepreneurs, and strengthening sustainable agriculture, BSF innovation is demonstrating how biocircular solutions can generate environmental, social, and economic benefits simultaneously.
The momentum generated in Nairobi suggests that Kenya is well positioned to become a leader in Africa’s emerging circular bioeconomy—one where waste is no longer a problem to be managed, but a resource that fuels prosperity, resilience, and sustainable development. The workshop concluded with a shared vision for a youth-led, school-centered BSF ecosystem positioning circular agriculture as a practical pathway for transforming Nairobi’s urban challenges into opportunities for resilience, livelihoods, and sustainable food production.
Also Read: EU Mandates Digital Labels for Plant Protection Products from 2028
Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com
