Edible insects - specification part 1 : edible insects’ products

Edible insects have been introduced as an alternative nutrient/protein, enhancing ingredients to existing food products in Kenya. This food standard specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods for edible insects’ products intended for human consumption, and provides a basis for assuring their safety and quality. Owing to susceptibility of insects to contaminations, it addresses parameters directly related to the safety and quality of the products, such as moisture contents, and heavy metal and microbiological contaminations, as well as offering guidance for packaging and labelling

Production and handling of insects for food and feed - code of practice

Insect farming and production for use in animal feed and as a substitute for nutrients such as protein, has become a novel option for farmers with much effort being put in place to enhance production of edible insects. The Kenya Standard code of practice was developed to guide farmers in Kenya on both confined and semi-cultivation of insects. It specifies the requirements for sustainable establishment and operation of wild harvested or domesticated insect farming, production and harvesting, including post harvest handling: storage, processing, packaging, labelling and transport of insects for human consumption and feed industry

Chickens prefers eating insect meal : are consumers willing to pay for their eggs?

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have been identified for mass rearing due to their ability to convert organic waste into high-quality crude protein (CP), fat, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that are comparable or superior to that of fishmeal and soybean. Cost of protein in feed is highest in conventional feed at 49.09 US$while lowest in 100$. There is a need for farmer training to increase consistency in production. A consumer survey shows 71% of male headed households willing to consume eggs produced from BSFL-fed hens compared to 66% of female headed households. Industry regulation is an important factor

INSFEED2 : insect feed for poultry, fish and pig production in Sub-Saharan Africa – phase 2

The traceability and capacity to reliably produce black soldier fly (BSF) larvae at commercial scale on various waste streams in Kenya and Uganda have been established. The cost-effectiveness of BSF larvae meal (BSFLM) inclusion into small livestock diets has been demonstrated on-station and on-farm with significant gross profit margins, cost-benefit ratio and return on investment. This INSFEED 2 paper reports on scaling of the previous project phase. It details insect-based technologies under field conditions, testing different supply and upscaling pathways and has developed a gender sensitive business model suitable for men, women and young farmers

Broiler-grown meat from chicken fed insect meal coming soon to a table near you

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) and its larvae (BSFL), possess unique attributes such as high crude protein of at least 46%, low carbon footprint, contribution to a circular economy model and low initial investment costs. Feed millers will spend less financial resources to formulate feed that integrates insect meal as protein source. The cost of formulation decreases with increasing levels of BSFL. Compared to the other diets, 25% BSFL inclusion rate provides the farmer with gross margins (GM) that are greater than the total variable costs (TVC)

Black soldier fly production : farmers guide

This is an instruction manual for Kenyan smallholder farmers to start production of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Larvae as a substitute for omena fishmeal and soy in animal feed. It includes a “starter kit” as well as all aspects of preparation, risks, harvesting, processing, and cleaning, with a summary of production processes and costs. The production of the BSF on waste products of smallholder farmers provides the opportunity to produce protein rich animal feed. Not having to buy expensive feed with foreign protein ingredients such as soybean, and fishmeal, animal feed costs would decrease for farmers, leading to a more food secure economy

Novel soil booster : insect-composted organic fertilizer for increased crop yield, nutritional quality, and profitability

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae take only 5 weeks to produce mature organic fertilizer, compared to 12 – 24 weeks for conventional composting, and where BSF organic fertilizer is superior in nutrients to commercial organic fertilizers. The policy brief provides graphics and tables comparing BSF insect composted organic fertilizer (ICOF) with synthetic fertilizer (NPK) and commercially available organic fertilizer on maize, tomatoes, kales and French beans. The full potential of this technology for improved crop productivity requires more research as well as enabling policy interventions to regulate production and marketing, and to support scaling and adoption

Edible insects - specification part 2 : products containing edible insects

Use of edible insects to enhance nutritional contents of food products, especially snacks, is viewed as a potential option to enhance human nutrition. This Kenya Standard specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods for products containing edible insects as an ingredient intended for human consumption. Traditionally, many communities were consuming insects as part of their normal diet, a trend reversed by urbanization and modern agriculture. An edible insect product is processed by heat-treating insects that have been harvested from domesticated farms, semi-cultivated farms or from wild harvesting; this can be whole insect or in powder form

Insect-based feeds for the empowerment of women in Kenya and Uganda

French version available in IDRC Digital LibraryThe high cost of animal feed protein constrains vulnerable communities from making a living from poultry and fish farming. Insect based feeds have the potential to relieve this burden and empower women and young people. In western Kenya, 76% of poultry production is carried out by women, but monetary-related decisions are made mostly by men. Insect rearing is a sustainable home-based practice with minimal required inputs, ideal for women farmers often constrained by limited access to agricultural resources. The insect feed for poultry and fish production (INSFEED) project is contributing towards providing an alternative protein source for fish and poultry.Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund (CULTIAF

Aliments à base d’insectes pour l’autonomisation des femmes au Kenya et en Ouganda

English version available in IDRC Digital LibraryCultivate Africa’s Future Fund (CULTIAF