On March, 3, Dr Solange Uwituze, the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), officiated at the launch of the first commercial plant for insect-based animal feed in Rwanda, as well as the new standards that will regulate and facilitate the growth of this novel sector.

Uwituze represented the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources at the event that took place at the new plant’s premises in Bugesera District.

Insect-based animal feed is a promising innovation that can help addressing the lack of access to high quality and affordable commercial feed, which currently constrains the performance and growth of the livestock sector in Rwanda.

The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) can convert low-quality organic waste streams into valuable body mass containing high levels of quality protein and fat, serving as a substitute for

fishmeal and soybean. In addition, frass, i.e. the left-over product from growing insects, is an organic fertiliser that contains a nutrient-dense blend of N-P-K and minerals.

The introduction of insect-based animal feed products and the development of the standards were supported by the UK Aid funded Improving Market Systems for Agriculture in Rwanda (IMSAR-Noza Izoko) programme, implemented by Palladium in partnership with Swisscontact.

IMSAR aims to contribute to the commercialisation of agriculture by improving the way agricultural market systems function, making them more competitive and inclusive for smallholder farmers. IMSAR partnered with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) to provide technical assistance to selected agribusiness for improving their capacity to farm and process BSF.

Anna Wilson, Development Director at British High Commission in Kigali, noted that the IMSAR programme was instrumental in supporting the implementation of PSTA4; "The use of insects as a source of protein in animal feed has been tested and is now used in several countries. It is therefore great to see such innovation coming to Rwanda and we are happy to have helped pioneer companies as Safe for Health and Maggot Farm to gain the technical know-how and invest in production facilities”.

During the same event, Jerome Ndahimana, Director of Food and Agriculture, Chemistry and Environment Standards Unit, at Rwanda Standards Board, presented to participants the Standards that have been developed to regulate production and usage of the insect-based products.

These standards cover different aspects including production and handling of insects for food and feed (Code of practice), dried insect products for animal feeds (specification), and; edible insect products – Specification – Part 1Whole insect and insect flour.

He added: "The development of these standards has been achieved through the support of different partners. RSB is thankful to the IMSAR programme that initiated this activity of standardisation that took one year.”

Safe for Health is specialised in the production of animal feed and is a sister company of Abusol, one of the biggest and most advanced poultry farms in Rwanda. During the event, Jean Baptiste Musabyimana, CEO and Founder, presented the new plant and explained their vision for the future, which is to produce at least 5,000 MT of BSF powder per year.

He told The New Times that 1,000 tonnes of dried BSF could convert over 20,000 MT of low-quality organic waste into animal feed with high levels of proteins. "That means 5,000 MT of BSF powder could turn 100,000 MT of organic waste streams into feeds rich in proteins. Using the insects will reduce the use of the expensive Soybeans we have been using to produce animal feeds,” he said.

Francis Kavutze, the Founder of Maggot Farm, also supported by IMSAR, lauded the innovative project. "We got access to training on best rearing practice, and IMSAR investment helped us double our production of BSF larvae; we currently sell raw larvae to the fishery and poultry sector, but in the future, as we secure sufficient investment, we intend to start drying and processing, adding value to our product”.

In her speech, Uwituze said that this new technology is a timely alternative considering that the price of soybean – that animal feed relies on – has drastically increased from Rwf450/kg before 2019 to Rwf 1,050/kg currently.

She said that as a result, six manufacturers are operating at below production capacity (53%), which makes animal feeds very expensive. "Black Soldier Flies are a good solution and fit very well smallholder farmers that represent 68 percent of poultry and 97 percent of pig farming” she said.

She commended the UK support to the animal feed sector adding that the government is set to launch a fund to support poultry and pig value chain.

"We are partnering with Enabel (the Belgian Development Agency) to set up facilitation to help farmers access finance at 8 percent interest rate from BRD though banks and microfinance institutions” she said. Supporting the poultry and pig sector could help feed 22 million people by 2050 and 18 million by 2035. "It requires to multiply 13 times the current production to be able to feed such a population” she said.

About the partners

Rwanda Standards Development Board

Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) is a public institution mandated to undertake all activities pertaining to the development of Standards, Conformity Assessment and Metrology services in the country; it is the only body with powers to define and possess national standards. RSB is governed by the Board of Directors composed of major stakeholders from government, industry and academic institutions, as well as consumer associations. RBS has published 766 standards applied to food and agriculture products including specifications for agricultural products, good agriculture, hygiene and manufacturing practices for food production and conformity assessment procedures to evaluate the compliance.

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

icipe's mission is to help alleviate poverty, ensure food security and improve the overall health status of peoples of the tropics, by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods, while preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building.

Sustainable African Farming Enterprise For Health ltd (Safe For Health)

SAFE For Health is a sister company to ABUSOL, a commercial poultry farm and animal feed mill; it was founded in 2020 with the vision to find solutions to the animal feed constraint in Rwanda. SAFE for Health is the first insect-based animal feed commercial plant in Rwanda.

Maggot Farm

Maggot Farm is a Black Soldier Fly farm offering waste management and recycling for waste streams in Kamonyi and Kayonza. Founded in 2019, Maggot Farm can produce up to 4MT/month of BSF and 10 MT/month of organic fertiliser. Maggot Farm is currently selling raw larvae targeting small livestock farmers and agribusinesses.

About IMSAR

Improving Market Systems for Agriculture in Rwanda (IMSAR), known locally as Noza Isoko, is a UK Aid programme aims to increase the income of poor households operating in targeted agricultural markets. IMSAR works to identify market failures and uses a market systems approach to attract investment and stimulate inclusive growth. IMSAR counts 31 partners involved in the inputs, aggregation and finance markets.

IMSAR has so far generated over Rwf4 billion in private sector investment, facilitated additional exports worth over RWF 2 billion, and increased the incomes of over 100,000 rural households. IMSAR also provided long-term finance and equity used to fund longer term growth-oriented investments through the impact investor AgDevCo.

Officials present a copy of standards developed by RSB. / Craish Bahizi