Kenya Airways turns catering waste into insect protein for animal feed

KENYA – Kenya Airways has achieved a 100% diversion rate for organic waste generated at its Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) hub, with food waste from its catering operations now being converted into black soldier fly protein for use in animal feed through a partnership with Nas Servair and Kenyan waste-to-value company Synergy.

The initiative forms part of the airline’s broader sustainability strategy and is helping transform organic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills into valuable products for the agriculture sector, including protein-rich feed ingredients, organic fertiliser, and compost.

“At Kenya Airways, we believe sustainability is about creating value while protecting our planet. 

Through partnerships such as our collaboration with Nas Servair and Synergy, we are demonstrating that waste is not something to be discarded but a resource that can be transformed into solutions for climate action, food security, and economic development,” said Hellen Mwariri, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Kenya Airways.

“By diverting organic waste from landfill and supporting innovative circular economy models, we are reducing environmental impacts, creating opportunities for communities, and contributing to a more sustainable future for generations to come,” she added.

Black soldier fly larvae create value from airline catering waste

At Synergy’s processing facility, organic waste collected from airline catering operations is fed to black soldier fly larvae, which rapidly consume and break it down.

The larvae can reduce organic waste volumes by up to 70% within approximately 15 days from hatching, significantly reducing the amount of waste requiring disposal while creating commercially valuable outputs.

Once harvested, the larvae are processed into protein-rich feed ingredients for poultry, aquaculture, and livestock production. 

The insect-based protein provides a sustainable alternative to conventional feed ingredients and supports efforts to reduce pressure on natural resources while improving circularity within food production systems.

The model is gaining global attention as feed manufacturers and livestock producers seek alternative protein sources that support sustainable production while reducing reliance on traditional ingredients.

In addition to insect protein, the process generates frass, the nutrient-rich organic material left behind after the larvae consume the waste. This material is further processed into organic fertiliser that can improve soil health and agricultural productivity.

Synergy also operates an aerobic composting system in which the remaining organic material is composted under controlled conditions for approximately 180 days to produce high-quality compost for agricultural use.

According to Kenya Airways, diverting organic waste away from landfills also helps prevent methane emissions that would otherwise be generated during decomposition. 

Methane is considered one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a significant contributor to climate change.

Beyond the environmental benefits, the waste-to-value ecosystem supports employment opportunities across waste collection, transportation, segregation, insect farming, compost production, packaging and agricultural distribution networks.

The initiative highlights the growing role of black soldier fly technology in Africa’s emerging circular bioeconomy. 

Kenya has become one of the continent’s leading markets for insect-based feed production, with increasing investment in technologies that convert organic waste streams into valuable agricultural inputs.

For Kenya Airways, the programme demonstrates how partnerships beyond the aviation sector can contribute to sustainability goals while creating value for agriculture, animal feed production and local communities. 

What was once considered waste is now being transformed into products that support food production, soil health and economic development, creating a circular system that benefits both the environment and the agricultural sector.

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