๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Sustainable waste management and alternative feed production took center stage as the Cordillera Center for Animal Research and Development (CCARD) of Benguet State University (BSU) conducted the Training on Black Soldier Fly Farming for Organic Waste Management and Sustainable Feed Production on June 30, 2026, at the CCARD Hall at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Compound.
The capacity-building activity gathered representatives from local government units, organic farming practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders to strengthen their knowledge and skills in Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farmingโan emerging technology that transforms biodegradable waste into valuable agricultural inputs while producing nutrient-rich feed for livestock and aquaculture.
Opening the technical sessions, Ms. Nora Hill G. Evasco of the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture (CA), introduced the biology and life cycle of the BSF and discussed its role as an efficient decomposer of organic waste. She also highlighted the agricultural value of BSF by-products, particularly frass, the excrement of BSF which serves as a beneficial soil amendment that improves soil structure and fertility.
CCARD Director Dr. Ana B. Mendoza followed with a discussion on the global status of BSF adoption, citing challenges such as food safety standards, regulatory concerns, and market acceptance. Despite these, she emphasized the Philippines’ strong potential for expanding BSF production, given the country’s abundant agricultural resources and organic waste materials.
Instructor Janthor Gideon W. Ambrosio of BSU Buguias then presented the fundamentals of establishing a BSF production system. His lecture covered site selection, infrastructure requirements, essential equipment, and recommended container designs for each developmental stage of the insect. He also shared practical management techniques for maximizing waste conversion efficiency and maintaining healthy BSF colonies.
During the afternoon session, Dr. Mendoza discussed organic waste management through BSF bioconversion, explaining appropriate waste materials, ideal substrate mixtures, and feeding strategies that support efficient waste processing and larval development.
Researcher Laarni Jane M. Cawayan concluded the lecture series with a presentation on harvesting and processing BSF larvae and their by-products. She demonstrated various harvesting methods and proper handling practices to ensure the quality and safety of larvae intended for livestock and poultry feed.
Complementing the lecture sessions, participants toured the BSF laboratory and took part in hands-on demonstrations on substrate preparation, egg handling, and pupa management. Interactive discussions throughout the training also provided participants with opportunities to clarify concepts and exchange experiences with the resource speakers.
The training highlighted the potential of BSF farming as a practical and sustainable solution for managing organic waste while producing alternative feeds for livestock and aquaculture. Through initiatives like this, CCARD continues to promote science-based innovations that help farmers and stakeholders adopt sustainable waste management and alternative feed production technologies. // Guel L. Olman (BSDC Intern)
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐๐ซ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐
As food waste continues to accumulate and feed prices steadily rise, farmers, livestock producers, and communities are searching for practical and sustainable solutions to two growing challenges. Tons of food scraps, vegetable trimmings, and agricultural residues are discarded every day, often ending up in landfills where they contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the increasing cost of conventional feed ingredients, such as fishmeal and soybean meal, continues to place pressure on livestock and aquaculture production.
But what if a single insect could help address both challenges?
Researchers and agricultural institutions are increasingly recognizing the potential of Black Soldier Fly (BSF), scientifically known as ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ข ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด, farming as a sustainable solution that transforms organic waste into valuable products such as animal feed and organic fertilizer. Originally native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, the Black Soldier Fly is now widely established in many parts of the world, including the Philippines. By converting biodegradable waste into useful resources, BSF farming supports both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.
Recognizing its potential, the Cordillera Center for Animal Research and Development (CCARD) of Benguet State University (BSU) has been promoting BSF farming through research, extension, capacity-building initiatives, and technology commercialization as a practical approach to sustainable agriculture and waste management.
At the center of this innovation are the larvae of the BSF. Unlike common houseflies, adult BSF do not bite or sting and are not considered significant vectors of human diseases because they do not feed on waste. Their larvae consume a wide range of organic materials, including kitchen waste, fruit and vegetable scraps, and agricultural crop residues. Through a natural process known as bioconversion, the larvae efficiently convert these materials into nutrient-rich biomass.
According to Dr. Ana B. Mendoza, Director of CCARD, this process offers significant environmental benefits. By reducing the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfills, BSF larvae help minimize greenhouse gas emissions associated with decomposing organic materials. Studies have also shown that the larvae can reduce populations of harmful microorganisms, including ๐๐ด๐ค๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฉ๐ช๐ข ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช (๐. ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช) and Salmonella, through a combination of digestive processes and naturally occurring antimicrobial compounds, contributing to safer organic waste management.
Another advantage of BSF farming is the insect’s remarkable reproductive capacity. Although adult flies typically live for only about five to eight days, a single female can lay approximately 400 to 800 eggs during her lifetime. This enables colonies to establish quickly and continuously convert organic waste into valuable resources, making the practice suitable for scaling up in farming communities and institutions seeking sustainable waste management solutions.
After feeding, the larvae leave behind a nutrient-rich material known as frassโa mixture of insect manure, shed exoskeletons, and decomposed organic matter. Frass can be used as an organic fertilizer that improves soil fertility, enhances water retention, and supports healthier crop growth, contributing to more sustainable crop production.
Beyond waste management, BSF larvae are increasingly being explored as an alternative protein source for poultry, fish, pigs, and companion animals. Rich in protein and beneficial fats, the larvae offer a promising substitute for more expensive conventional feed ingredients, helping farmers reduce feed costs while making productive use of locally available organic waste.
For local communities, materials once regarded as waste can become valuable agricultural inputs. Vegetable trimmings, food scraps, and agricultural residues that would otherwise end up in landfills can instead be converted into livestock feed and organic fertilizer, creating environmental benefits while generating additional economic opportunities.
As more farmers and communities adopt BSF farming, what was once viewed simply as organic waste is being reimagined as a valuable resource. Through science-based innovations like this, agriculture can become more resource-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and resilientโdemonstrating how a small insect can make a meaningful contribution to a more circular and sustainable agricultural future. //Krisha Agwayaway (BSDC Intern)
๐ธ Philip Nalimang & Clinton Basilan
โ๐ต๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐.โ
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