{"id":354477,"date":"2026-04-10T00:44:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T23:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/?p=354477"},"modified":"2026-04-09T15:00:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:00:46","slug":"collaborate-to-end-nigerian-livestock-feed-crisis-country-rep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/?p=354477","title":{"rendered":"Collaborate To End Nigerian Livestock Feed Crisis\u00a0 …Country Rep"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Country Representative of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Tunde Amole, has described the Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as a sustainable solution to Nigeria\u2019s growing livestock feed crisis.<\/div>\n
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Dr. Amole said this\u00a0at a National Roundtable on Black Soldier Fly Larvae Development in Nigeria held at\u00a0 ILRI recently.<\/div>\n
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The event, with the theme \u201cAligning Science, Enterprise, and Policy to Scale Insect-based Feed Solutions,\u201d brought together policymakers, researchers, regulators, private investors, and BSFL farming entrepreneurs to map out strategies for integrating insect protein into Nigeria\u2019s agricultural system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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According to him, black soldier fly larvae can feed on organic waste including market and kitchen refuse and develop into high-protein feed within 10 to 14 days.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt contains about 40 to 45 per cent protein, making it a viable alternative to some protein source feed ingredients in poultry, fish, and pig feed ration if produced sustainably\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Amole noted growing interest from feed manufacturers, stressing that supply, not demand remains the major constraint<\/p>\n

“The question now is who can produce at commercial scale,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

He also highlighted Nigeria\u2019s comparative advantage, citing its tropical climate and abundant organic waste, which support year-round production without the need for expensive temperature control systems.<\/p>\n

He however emphasised the need for standardisation to ensure consistency in nutrient quality and safety across producers.<\/p>\n

Also speaking, a Senior Scaling and Innovation Expert from the institutes \u2018headquarters in Nairobi, Dr. Ijudai Jasada, identified fragmentation within the BSFL value chain as a major barrier to scale.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need a coordinated system that connects all actors and reduces inefficiencies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Stakeholders at the Roundtable reached a consensus that ILRI should take the lead in establishing and championing a national platform on BSFL.<\/p>\n

Jasada said plans are underway to establish a national coordination platform to improve collaboration, attract investment, and support long-term growth of the sector.<\/p>\n

He said the goal is to integrate insect-based feed into Nigeria\u2019s mainstream feed industry by 2030, while creating employment opportunities for women and youth.<\/p>\n

On capacity development, Prof. Cordelia Ifeyinwa Ebenebe of Nnamdi Azikiwe University acknowledged ongoing training efforts by development partners and institutions but warned that Nigeria\u2019s regulatory framework for insect-based feed remains underdeveloped.<\/p>\n

She noted that standards are still evolving and are expected to align with benchmarks being developed by the African Organisation for Standardisation.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Prof. Olugbenga Adeniran Ogunwole stressed the importance of safety assurance and regulatory clarity, warning that policy gaps could hinder large-scale adoption.<\/p>\n

He identified key challenges, including variability in nutrient composition, digestibility concerns linked to chitin content, and relatively high production costs.<\/p>\n

A BSFL producer, Mr. Kolawole Ogunleye, said large-scale production remains difficult due to limited access to equipment, financing, and infrastructure, adding, \u201cThe process is labour-intensive, and most of the equipment is still imported,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

From the private sector, Mr. John Amole, Country Representative of New Generation Nutrition (NGN), described insect protein as a growing but still underutilised solution in Nigeria.<\/p>\n

He noted that although insect meal has been approved as a feed ingredient, it has yet to gain widespread market acceptance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is interest, but the ecosystem is still developing, and there are no guaranteed off-takers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sharing international experience, Ms Talash Huijbers of InsectiPro, Kenya, highlighted the success of circular economy models that convert organic waste into protein and fertiliser.<\/p>\n

The roundtable concluded with key recommendations, including the establishment of a clear legal framework for insect-based feed, financial incentives for startups, standardised substrates, integration into national waste management systems, and increased funding for research and extension services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Country Representative of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Tunde Amole, has described the Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as a sustainable solution to Nigeria\u2019s growing livestock feed crisis. Dr. Amole said this\u00a0at a National Roundtable on Black Soldier Fly Larvae Development in Nigeria held at\u00a0 ILRI recently. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67315,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-354477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agriculture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/67315"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=354477"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":354484,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354477\/revisions\/354484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=354477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=354477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=354477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}