Research on BSFL in fish feed production featured at East African Regional Aquaculture Conference

KENYA –  Recent research on alternative protein sources for feed production confirms that locally produced alternatives can effectively substitute a portion of commercial diets. 

The need to explore alternative sources of protein is in response to the significant challenges due to the high cost and availability of feed ingredients, particularly protein sources that fish farmers face. 

For example, with nearly 70% of its animal feed ingredients being imported, Kenyan fish farmers often rely on expensive and low-quality protein sources like soybean and fish meal. 

These imports are not only costly for smallholder fish farmers but are also sourced from distant and less sustainable regions. 

This situation has prompted the exploration of more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives, with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) emerging as a promising solution.

Globally, extensive research has supported the viability of BSFL as an alternative protein source for animal feed production, including aquafeed. 

In Kenya, many initiatives have recently been launched to culture BSFL, both on small and large scales. Typically, BSFL are cultured on locally available organic agricultural and food by-products, which would otherwise be disposed of in landfills. 

One such research study, featured at the recently concluded Third East African Regional Aquaculture Conference held from August 13-15, 2024, at the Malaika Beach Resort in Mwanza, Tanzania, focused on alternative, cost-effective feeding strategies for Nile tilapia farming in Kenya. 

Conducted by Mary Opiyo and her team from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, the study explored the potential of using BSFL and freshwater shrimp (Caridina nilotica) to partly substitute commercial diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in smallholder fish farms in Busia County, Kenya.

The research was carried out over an 84-day period, during which Nile tilapia were fed one of three diets: a standard commercial diet (CD), a diet where 20% of the commercial feed was replaced with BSFL, and a diet with a 20% substitution using freshwater shrimp. 

The fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily, and their growth performance, survival rates, total fish production, and economic feed conversion rates were meticulously recorded.

The results revealed that all three feeding strategies performed equally well in terms of growth performance, with fish reaching similar body weights of approximately 63 to 68 grams across all diets. 

However, the economic analysis provided a more nuanced picture. While the nutritional and production outcomes were similar, the use of BSFL led to significantly higher economic returns compared to both the freshwater shrimp and the commercial diet alone.

This study’s findings are particularly relevant for smallholder fish farmers looking to optimise their feed costs without compromising on fish growth or production. By incorporating BSFL into their feeding regimes, farmers could enhance the sustainability and profitability of their operations.

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