Amid a growing waste crisis, Dr Frank Mnthambala is taking a groundbreaking initiative that could transform agriculture and waste management in Malawi.
At the Mzuzu University (Mzuni) Department of Agri-sciences, his work with black soldier flies (BSF) shows how the insects can drive sustainable change by converting waste into valuable resources.
Globally, BSF, scientifically known as Hermetia illucens, is gaining attention for its wide range of potential applications, including waste management, animal feed and medicinal properties.
“Black soldier flies have many uses, but our current focus is on producing animal feed,” says the scientist. “The larvae provide an environment-friendly, sustainable protein source for aquaculture, poultry and livestock, reducing the dependence on traditional feed sources like fishmeal and soy,”.
Mnthambala is working closely with the Sustainable Waste-based Insect Farming Technologies (Swift) Project to showcase the fly’s transformative potential in Malawi.
The project is a joint initiative led by the Solid Waste in the Department of Sanitation, Water, and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The institute collaborates with researchers from Mzuni and the Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) in Malawi and Uganda’s Makerere University and Bioconvision.
Mzuni’s Department of Agri-Sciences initiated a BSF facility as an exploratory project, which has since developed into a fully integrated operation.
“Our facility now manages the entire lifecycle of black soldier flies—from eggs to larvae, pupae and adults in a specialised greenhouse facility,” Mnthambala says.
This facility efficiently produces the larvae. The worms constitute a high-protein feed for poultry, pigs and fish using a simplified BSF approach (SIMBA).
The BSF facility produces frass, a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser, by utilising organic waste from Mzuni’s restaurant. This project showcases a sustainable, closed-loop system that improves both agricultural productivity and educational outcomes within the university.
Swift plans to expand with a larger facility in Mzuzu City, the Northern Region’s commercial hub.
“This project will scale up our capacity to process larger volumes of organic waste. It’s not just about increasing operations; it’s a step towards realising our broader vision of improving food security, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the region,” he says.
The project was developed in response to the escalating food insecurity and rapid population growth across sub-Saharan Africa.
“High feed costs are a significant barrier for Malawi’s growing poultry, pig and fish farming sectors,” said Dr. Mnthambala. “In addition, systemic challenges such as limited access to land, natural resources and finance disproportionately affect women and youth, restricting their ability to contribute to the economy.”
By converting organic waste into valuable resources, the project aims to replace harmful waste disposal methods like dumping and open burning, which pose environmental and health risks and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
“This waste-to-resource approach is still in its early stages in Malawi, but it offers a promising solution. Our goal is to encourage smallholder farmers and small to medium-sized enterprises to adopt this innovative model, improving food security and creating jobs,” he says.
The Department of Agri-Sciences is committed to fostering human capital development, empowering entrepreneurs, and contributing to sustainable agricultural progress in Malawi.
“We are passionate about transforming Malawi’s agricultural sector into one of the most thriving in Africa,” Mnthambala says.
The majority of fish farmers in the country cannot afford fish feed, which accounts for 60 percent of the cost of the enterprise.
Smallholder farmers cough over K80 000 for a 50 kilogramme bag since all micronutrients are imported.
The price tag compelled government to remove value-added tax on fish feed and importation of requisite machinery in 2021, stirring excitement among more than 15 000 farmers in the country that produces about 3 600 tonnes of fish annually.
“The uptake of fish feed has been low due to high pricing. As such, the country imports around 900 tonnes of fish feed per annum, which is not economically sustainable for local factories” said Professor Emmanuel Kaunda, director for Africa Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture, following the tax waiver.
Kenneth Mtambo chairperson of Polepole Fish Farming scheme in Chitipa says fish yields remain low because many farmers cannot lay their hands on improved fish feed.
“We cannot afford both imported and locally produced feed. This compromise fish growth and the harvest from our ponds,” he said.
If successful, the black soldier fly turning waste into fish and animal feed offers a new option for constrained farmers while reducing waste soiling the face of Malawi.
