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Ento-Prise: COMMERCIAL SCALE INSECT-BASED TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANIC WASTES TO

BENEFIT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN GHANA

AgriTT Final Report Form – Research Challenge Fund Projects 1

FINAL PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT RESEARCH CHALLENGE FUND

PROJECTS




FINAL REPORT

Project Identification Details

Lead institution: Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling

Project title: ENTO-PRISE: COMMERCIAL SCALE INSECT-BASED TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANIC WASTES TO BENEFIT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN GHANA

Location: Greater Accra Ghana

Agreement / ID no: 1564

Name of project leader /

manager: Dr Francis Murray

Contact Details: (incl: email address)

Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA. [email protected]

Project start date: 1st January 2014

Project end date: 31 March 2016

Amount of grant/investment: £295,842.00

Date of report: 17th March 2016

Name & email contact of

person compiling the report: Francis Murray [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




List of acronyms used Please insert the list of all acronyms used in your report.

ARI CSIR Animal Research Institute (Ghana) BSF Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) CABI Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau – International (Ghana) CEF Controlled Environment Facility

CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Ghana) DD Degree Days

DMM Dried Maggot Meal

FIO Faecal Indicator Organisms

FM Fish Meal

GHG Green House Gas

GIDA Ghana Irrigation Development Authority HZAU Hauzhong Agricultural University (China) ILM Insect Larvae Meal

LCA Life Cycle Analysis

LIC Lower Income Country

NPK Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium (fertiliser macro-nutrients)

SoU Shanghai Ocean University (China)

UoS University of Stirling (UK)

1. Executive Summary

Ento-Prise addressed two major livelihood challenges facing fast growing, urbanising LICs in Africa;

enhancing food and security and sanitary waste disposal. An over-arching research question was

could an improved approach to organic waste transformation through insect larvae and bio-fertiliser

co-production promote pro-poor employment opportunities in Ghana? Taking a highly

interdisciplinary biotechnical and value-chain approach, Ento-Prise aimed to support adaptive-

transition from a rural tradition of extensive low-input/output insect-based waste-remediation at

homestead level (natural mixed species ovi-position for free range poultry) to intensive peri-urban

monoculture of high-yielding black soldier fly (BSF: Hermetia illucens) capable of feeding on diverse

range of organic substrates. Results indicate greatest adoption potential in metropolitan peri-urban

settings integrating sanitary and soil fertility needs, co-location of high-volume low value substrate

inputs and demand for co-products by small-scale vegetable farmers and feed-lot livestock

(especially poultry) producers supplying local consumer demand for animal protein and vegetables




from a growing urban middle class. A study of BSF commercialization trends in China also confirmed

the validity of this approach whilst equatorial Ghana also has the advantage of year-round

production potential under ambient temperature conditions. Stakeholder perception surveys

indicated high levels of stated acceptance for use of co-products by small-holder farmers (including

women) and consumers of end-products. Rudimentary management systems for ‘green-wastes’

from open-air retail markets and supermarket distribution chains (see below) also indicated good

potential for adaptive incorporation into a putative BSF supply-chain.

Organic waste streams from a diverse range of sources (poultry manure, tilapia processing offal,

municipal and fruit and vegetable wastes were evaluated and the latter ‘green-waste’ identified as a

high potential substrate in terms of safety (heavy metal and bacterial contamination risk), availability

(in time and space), low opportunity-cost and BSF production performance. The resulting BSF co-

products; dried maggot meal (DMM) and biofertiliser were found to be equivalent or superior to

conventional inputs in on-station agronomy and poultry (Guinea fowl) nutrition trials in terms of

growth, yield and survival. Sex-reversal and survival rates of juvenile tilapia fed hormone treated

DMM were comparable with positive controls (hormone treated fishmeal and a commercial diet)

though increasing DMM inclusion depressed growth rates. Taken together, these results indicate

greatest potential for DMM inclusion in poultry diets, with DDM diets achieving up to 17% higher

growth compared to fish meal controls in two trial phases. In 3 phases of on-station agronomy trials

(GIDA) combination BSF biofertiliser (at 10t/ha) and inorganic fertilizer applications achieved up to

55% superior yield outcomes compared to the same inorganic fertilizer and local (poultry) manure

combinations; evaluated on a range of locally important short-cycle cash crops (especially shallots

and maize). Preliminary analyses also point to improved soil moisture and nutrient retention.

Life Cycle Analysis indicated CO2 emissions and global warming potential linked to BSFL production

(mainly originating from larvae themselves) was comparable or superior to levels which would be

produced if fruit waste was directly disposed of in land fill or composted. BSF biofertiliser and dried

maggot meal (DMM) also compared favourably against existing inputs evaluated in livestock-

nutrition and agronomy trials; especially when used for Guinea Fowl production, achieving up to

25% CHG reduction compared to tuna-fishmeal based diets. Research also confirmed ability of BSF

larvae to eliminate potentially pathogenic faecal bacterial contaminants detected in fresh fruit and

vegetable samples from open-air retail markets in Accra and Tamale.

Despite over-coming significant BSF production hurdles, including a biosecurity solution to

broodstock pre-pupae infection by parasitoid wasps, simple cost-benefit analysis presented only a

marginal case for small-holder adoption at the current-state of system development. Although

further research and development is still required, Ento-prise has taken other robust steps to

improve system productivity over the last year. This includes trials on improving white larvae/

substrate separation efficiency at optimal yield and nutrient quality points in the grow-out cycle i.e.

before a self-harvesting but less nutritionally optimum pre-pupae stage – in-turn determined

through comprehensive larval growth and macro/ micro-nutrient analyses trials in controlled

environment facilities (CEF) at the University of Stirling.




Results contributed to development of a BSF process manual for prospective adopters and five

short-videos (English/French) demonstrating step-wise production steps at the Ento-Prise BSF

facility, cost-benefit demonstration and others introducing the project and highlighting putative

value-chains in Accra (hosted on the project website, social media and you-tube. Training and

extension events were embedded in on-station agronomy trials and BSF production options/ use of

larvae meal as poultry dietary ingredient promoted by local partners at the Ghana National farmer’s

day in Dec 2015. The projects overarching goal of fostering small-holder adoption will be taken

forward by Ento-Prise partners ARI and CABI who will continue developing the prototype production

facility located on the ARI campus as an integral part of a 6 year follow-on Swiss funded (SDC and

SNFS) project ‘Sustainable Use of Insects to Improve Livestock Production and Food Security in

Smallholder Farms in West Africa’ (IFWA: http://www.r4d.ch/modules/food-security/insects-as-

feed). IFAW combines 3yrs of primary research followed by 3 years of technology adoption effort

with small-holders including livestock and aquaculture BSF larvae end-users.

2. Relevance of the Project

Explain the relevance of the project. Did your RCF project remain relevant in the context in which

you are working? Please explain what you have done to ensure that the interventions represented

in the logframe continued to respond to the needs of the research aims.

Ento-Prise addressed two major livelihood challenges facing fast growing, urbanising LICs in Africa;

enhancing food and security and sanitary waste disposal. An over-arching research question was

can an improved approach to organic waste transformation through (black soldier fly: BSF) larvae

and bio-fertiliser production promote pro-poor employment opportunities in Ghana? Building on

earlier experimental work demonstrating technical potential at experimental scale and taking a

value-chain approach, the project aimed to assess and support potential for commercial-scale

maggot production and utilization of its products considering local socio-economic and resource

opportunities and constraints.

The project took a highly adaptive approach to support transition from a rural tradition of

extensive low-input/output insect-based waste-remediation at homestead level (using natural

mixed species ovi-position for free range poultry) to intensive peri-urban monoculture of high-

yielding black soldier fly capable of feeding on diverse range of organic substrates. This

intensification approach has greatest economic justification in peri-urban settings where there is

co-location of input supply (organic-waste) and demand for co-products (BSF larvae and bio-

fertiliser). The emergence of intensive feed-lot livestock sectors to meet demand for animal

protein from a growing middle class is a feature of all Ghana’s metropolitan areas including Accra,

Kumasi and Tamale (i.e. with densely populated urban cores and less-populated surrounding

territories). Intensive feed-lot poultry (layer and broiler) is common to all these cities, whilst there

has been a particularly rapid growth of cage-tilapia farming on the Volta Reservoir in Accra’s

hinterland. Operating within highly competitive globalized markets, the future economic

sustainability of these sectors will to varying degrees depend on availability of quality local

ingredients for formulation of nutritionally complete diets. Meanwhile there is also a need for

organic fertilizer to augment yields and counter decreasing soil fertility by peri-urban small-holder

http://www.r4d.ch/modules/food-security/insects-as-feed





fruit and vegetable farmers supplying urban markets. In this respect, strategic co-location of BSF

production is particularly important given the higher volume/ lower unit value of BSF biofertiliser

i.e. compared to DMM.

Work Package (WP) activities presented in the description of work and as logframe interventions

were designed to fulfill three development objectives (Outputs):

Output 1: Commercial-scale Insect production system and co-products evaluated for economic

performance

Significant progress (summarised below) was made against all outputs, however simple cost-

benefit analyses pointed to limited economic justification for adoption of BSF production by small-

holders at the current state of system development. The analysis based on the projects pilot BSF

system (ARI campus) producing 0.76t DMM and 9t biofertiliser in five 2mx2m concrete bays over

12 months (with output prices based on best-case agronomy and livestock trial outcomes – see

below) indicated annual profit of only USD 248 and a 19yr pay-back on initial buildings/ equipment

capital outlay. Assuming broadly linear scale-economies scaling up to 15 bays, with increased

building size, broodstock cage capacity for egg production - outputs increase to 2.27t DMM and 27t

of biofertiliser per year, increasing annual profit to USD 1907 and reducing fixed capital payback

time to 4 years. Both these estimates also exclude labour costs; assuming the small-scale adopter

would operate the site on a half and full-time basis for the two scale scales, taking income from the

profit generated (c.f. with an average Accra peri-urban agriculture salary of USD 1920). These

findings, based on optimal and sustained production outcomes, point to need for further

biotechnical research and development to enhance productivity i.e. beyond simple up-scaling to

justify commercial adoption. It is pertinent to note here that at current productivity levels, the

DMM and biofertiliser outputs contribute an approximately even share of farm-gate revenue in

the above example (though biofertiliser transport costs will be considerably higher).

The model also assumes accessible markets and reliable demand for each of the products at prices

equal or lower than their equivalents (e.g. locally available chicken manure fertiliser and good

quality dried fish meal). The dual production nature of the system is likely to provide some

resilience to market volatility as demand for two co-products are likely to be relatively de-coupled.

Market options and scale-economies also expand with production up-scaling, although the

relatively good keeping properties of dried maggot meal and (especially) biofertiliser do to some

extent lend themselves to longer stock-piling periods at lower production scales. Conversely,

greater logistical challenge in matching supply and demand for more perishable white-larvae as a

live-feed for livestock (especially poultry) would be more suited to small-scale on-farm co-located

production (this model has proved especially popular with small-holder poultry producers in China.

Understandably, more risk-averse small-holders engaged during the project were generally

reluctant to collaborate on a pre-commercial model such as this, preferring to wait for

development of a more fully proven ‘turn-key’ system.

For this reason, with prior agreement of AgriTT management the original final project mile stone

(MS6) which was:




‘By December 2015 to have 15 small to mid-scale adopters (10 female, 5 male) who had taken up

Black Soldier Fly larvae rearing on a stand-alone commercial basis’

was modified to:

‘Efficacy of BSF co-products in livestock nutrition and agronomy trials demonstrated against

prevailing production practices and results extended to small-holder farmers through training and

extension events’.

With respect to the original MS6, Ento-Prise partners ARI and CABI will continue to build on project

findings developing the prototype production facility located on the ARI campus as an integral part

of a 6 year follow-on Swiss funded (SDC and SNFS) project ‘Sustainable Use of Insects to Improve

Livestock Production and Food Security in Smallholder Farms in West Africa’ (IFWA:

http://www.r4d.ch/modules/food-security/insects-as-feed). IFAW combines 3yrs of primary

research followed by 3 years of technology adoption effort with small-holders including livestock

and aquaculture BSF larvae end-users. A further potential production bottleneck requiring further

research and communicated with IFWA relates to the observed variability in broodstock/ egg

output linked to potentially inter-acting environmental and genotypic factors (for example we

suspect sex-ratios may be determined in part by egg incubation temperature).

Output 2: Commercial-scale Insect production and biofertiliser evaluated for public health,

environmental performance and social acceptance

Organic waste streams from a diverse range of sources (poultry manure, tilapia processing offal,

municipal and fruit and vegetable ‘green market’ wastes) were evaluated and the latter green

waste identified as a high potential substrate in terms of their safety, availability, opportunity cost

and BSF production performance.

The resulting BSF co-products; dried maggot meal (DMM) and biofertiliser were found to be

equivalent or superior to conventional inputs in on-station agronomy and poultry (Guinea fowl)

nutrition trials in terms of growth, yield and survival. Sex-reversal and survival rates of juvenile

tilapia fed hormone treated DMM were comparable with positive controls (hormone treated

fishmeal and a commercial diet) though increasing DMM inclusion depressed growth rates. Taken

together, these results indicate greatest potential for DMM inclusion in poultry diets, with DDM

diets achieving up to 17% higher growth compared to fish meal controls in two trial phases.

In 3 phases of on-station agronomy trials (GIDA) combination BSF biofertiliser (at 10t/ha) and

inorganic fertilizer applications were found to give up to 55% superior yield outcomes compared to

inorganic fertilizer application for a range of locally important short-cycle cash crops (especially

shallots and maize). When applied alone, the bio-fertiliser also compared favourably with local

organic (poultry) manure and inorganic fertilizer combinations. Preliminary analyses also point to

improved soil moisture and nutrient retention.

Stakeholder perception surveys also indicate high levels of stated acceptance for use of co-

products by small-holder farmers (including women) and consumers of end-products. Analysis of

existing waste management of green wastes from retail markets and supermarket distribution

networks also indicates good potential for adaptive incorporation into a putative BSF supply-chain.





Results point to greatest adoption potential in peri-urban settings integrating sanitary and soil

fertility needs, co-location of high-volume low value substrate inputs and demand for co-products

by small-scale vegetable farmers and feed-lot (poultry) livestock producers.

On-station (ARI) BSF broodstock/egg and larvae growth performance trials and matched trials in

controlled environment facilities (CEF: UoS) contributed to determination of high-potential (locally-

available) production substrates, to address biosecurity issues linked to broodstock infection by

parasitoid wasps and confirmed ability of BSF larvae to eliminate potentially pathogenic faecal

bacterial contaminants detected in fresh fruit and vegetable samples from open-air retail markets

in Accra and Tamale. Life Cycle Analysis assessments indicated that global warming potential linked

to CO2 emissions from BSFL production (mainly originating from the larvae themselves) was

comparable or superior to levels which would be produced if fruit waste was directly disposed of in

land fill or composted. DMM also compares favourably against emissions for tuna by-product fish

meal for which it substituted in livestock nutrition trials; especially when used for Guinea Fowl

production which achieving up to 25% CHG reduction compared to fishmeal based diets. DMM

performed more poorly against land (with BSF production in low-level bays) and water-use impact

indicators. The former by may be more limiting at larger production-scales in peri-urban locations.

Differences between bio-fertiliser and inorganic fertilizer applications were less marked due

relatively high contribution of direct land and water use compared to upstream production factors.

Output 3: Comprehensive knowledge platform for insect production established and used in

Ghana. – See section 3.

3. Key results and achievements of the Project

A. Extent to which planned results have been achieved

Achievements realised

Provide figures and comment on progress Evidence

Output 1 Commercial-scale Insect production system and co-products evaluated for economic performance

1.1 At least 3 high-potential waste streams shortlisted & procurement agreements finalised with suppliers




MS1 Waste streams for insect-based transformation mapped and parameterised

A range of tasks (across WPs 2,3 & 4) covering stakeholder

analysis, substrate availability/ opportunity cost assessments

( contaminants assessments, BSF larval growth and

nutritional quality trials) contributed to the screening of a

wide range of candidate substrates (including poultry and

pig manures, tilapia processing offal, municipal organic

waste, fruit and vegetable waste from processing and

informal and formal market sectors) and final selection of

green market waste reliably sourced from open air retail

markets as ‘high potential substrates’ for up-scaled

production to supply agronomy and livestock nutrition trials

(see below).

A generalised indicator-based decision tree approach for

substrate selection was also developed (summarised in

Annex 1a).

A tilapia-fry BSF nutrition and sex reversal efficiency trial

(see below) was accompanied by a ‘needs-analysis’ survey of

10 tilapia hatchery managers/ owners in the lower Volta

area.

Substrate and co-products contaminants analysis are documented in Annex 4C (macronutrients and heavy metals) and Annex 4D (microbial contaminants)

Annex 2A, 2B and 2C document stakeholder (consumer and farmer) attitudes to insect derived products and participation in BSF value-chain activities. A student MSc thesis documenting exploratory engagement with value-chain stakeholders (M4-7) is included in Annex 2D.

A summary of the tilapia hatchery ‘needs analysis’ interviews are included in Annex 3B (pending finalisation of a full-report)

1.2 Insect-rearing technology adapted to local environmental and socio-economic conditions

MS1 Models with commercial potential identified for trials

A highly modular stacked (22L) tray based BSF system

design, constructed at the ARI Adenta research station,

ideally lent itself to broodstock amplification and substrate

evaluation trials at the outset of the project (broodstock tray

contents were transferred into 3 ramped concrete bays for

self-harvesting) .

Once steady state egg production was reasonably assured

and ‘high potential’ substrates determined (i.e. green

market waste) attention shifted to up-scaling grow-out

production in five specially constructed 2mx2m (220L

capacity) enclosed concrete bays during the second project

year. Simple-cost benefit analysis (Annexe 2c) pointed to a

need for further productivity gains to encourage small-

holder adoption (see section 2).

This work also involved development of an effective

Reports documenting

development of the Ento-Prise

BSF production system and steps

taken to enhance efficiency are

documented in: Annex 5D

(production scheduling and

management), Annex 5C (larval

harvesting efficiency), Annex 3D

(larval growth under controlled

environmental conditions).

Lessons from BSF

commercialisation case-studies in

China are documented in Annex

5A

Co-authored Parasitoid wasp

paper published in Entomologia




biosecurity solution to BSF pre-pupae infection by parasitoid

wasps; a key source of production variability linked to low

adult emergence rates from pupae during initial system

development.

sei.pagepress.org/index.php/ento

mologia/article/download/284/15

6 (further detail below)

MS2 Maggot production is operational and parameterized

Larval growth Trials carried out in Ghana and latterly in UoS

controlled environment facilities (CEF) allowed us to

determine and further optimise key production, harvest and

post-harvest parameters including substrate selection,

broodstock fecundity, egg viability and stocking density,

larval nutrient composition, larval separation at harvest, and

cost-efficient maggot meal drying methods.

Production parameterisation

findings are documented in Annex

3D (larval growth model), Annex

5C (larval harvesting efficiency),

Annex 5D (production scheduling

and management) and quarterly

progress reports.

1.3 Insect co-products produced that can be as cost effective or superior to commercially available controls

MS1 Economic performance of co-products evaluated against commercial alternatives

Three livestock nutrition trials were undertaken evaluating

effects of different dietary substitution rates of BSF dried

maggot meal on production performance of Guinea fowl (GF

– 2 trials) and tilapia (1 trial). All trials were based on simple

direct substation of full DMM for fish meal (FM) i.e. rather

more complex formulation against species macro-nutrient

reference requirements. This was based on a need to avoid

the additional post-harvest processing complexity and cost

involved in producing a defatted maggot meal.

Two GF juvenile (keet) and on-grower trial phases conducted

‘on-station’ (ARI campus) demonstrated highly encouraging

growth gains (up to 17%) positively correlated with DDM

inclusion. The second (shorter; keet only) trial confirmed

reproducibility of phase 1 results.

Conversely the tilapia trial (in partnership with commercial

cage farmer Tropo Farms at their hatchery site)

demonstrated a negative correlation between juvenile

‘swim-up’ fry growth and DDM inclusion compared to

positive controls (a commercial starter diet and pure fish

meal). However, no significant difference was observed

between phenotypic sex-reversal rates (95-99%) - the

primary purpose of the trial; based on dietary inclusion of

Trial reports on the bio-technical

performance of BSF maggot meal

for livestock nutrition

documented in Annex 3A (Guinea

fowl juvenile (keet) and grow-out

performance) and 3B (tilapia

juvenile sex-reversal

Report summarising outcome of

three (on-station) agronomy trials

comparing performance of BSF

biofertiliser against organic and

inorganic fertilisers for irrigated

cultivation of vegetable

(‘corcorous’ (leafy vegetable) ,

shallots, chilli) and maize crops

(Annex 3c)




the 17 α-methyltestosterone hormone).

The large GF growth ‘effect-size’ coupled with the low DMM

inclusion rate required to achieve it (i.e. around 6%

compared to typical inclusion of 10% FM in tilapia grower

diets) indicate a comparative advantage for the use-of scaled

up BSF production for GF and poultry grow-out (partially

offset by higher farm-gate prices for tilapia). Further

research is required on performance of defatted-larvae meal

and lipids in formulated tilapia diets targeting different life

stages. Small-scale ‘on-farm’ BSF production also has

potential for hatchery owners to ‘supervise’ quality; high

variability in fish-meal batch quality being recognised as an

important source of variability in sex reversal efficiency in

other tilapia producing countries.

Three iterative phases of ‘on-station’ agronomy trials lead by

GIDA were completed evaluating the performance (yield,

soil fertility and moisture retention capacity) of BSF

biofertilisers (composted BSF substrate residues) on a range

of cash crops commonly cultivated by small-scale peri-urban

farmers. Results demonstrated good biotechnical promise

for composted BSF frass as a bio-fertiliser – notably for

important food-staple maize; achieving equivalent yield

outcomes compared to combined NPK inorganic and organic

(poultry manure) applications reflecting current practice.

The BSF production cost-benefit model summarised in

section 2 is based on cost-equivalence between the best

performing BSF treatments and these alternatives.

Output 2 Commercial-scale Insect production and biofertiliser evaluated for public health, environmental performance and social acceptance

2.1 Life cycle environmental impacts of insect-based and conventional waste-stream management strategies quantified

MS1 Life-cycle inventory-phase completed

Following early scoping work documented in a UoS MSc

thesis, the LCA inventory continued to be refined throughout

the project cycle - based on BSF production performance

outcomes (in Ghana and CEF facilities in Stirling) and results

of successive livestock nutrition (Guinea Fowl and tilapia)

and agronomy trials evaluating production performance BSF

DMM and biofertiliser co-products against conventional

Results documented in Annex 4B

(MSc thesis on LCA scoping and

inventory analysis) and

summarised in Annex 4A (LCA

environmental impact

assessment)




production inputs (see indicator 1.3)

As it was not practicable to measure gaseous emissions

under field conditions in Ghana, measurement was included

as part of a wider comprehensive assessment of BSF growth

and nutritional quality under controlled temperature and

humidity conditions at the University of Stirling. Three

substrates were evaluated: fish (salmon) processing offal,

broiler poultry manure, and a high-potential’ fruit and veg

substrate mix analogous to the market wastes used in

Ghana.

MS2 Life cycle impacts of insect and conventional waste-stream remediation of target substrates quantified

Secondary (Eco-Invent) and primary inventory data

described above (inc. final agronomy and livestock trials)

was been used to compare environmental impacts of BSF co-

product production and application against existing

commercial production practices. Assessments indicated

global warming potential linked to CO2 emissions from BSFL

production (mainly from the larvae themselves) was

comparable or superior to levels which would be produced if

fruit waste was directly disposed of in land fill or composted.

DMM also compares favourably against emissions for tuna

by-product fish meal for which it substituted in livestock

nutrition trials; especially when used for Guinea Fowl

production; achieving up to 25% CHG reduction compared to

fishmeal based diets. DMM performed more poorly against

land (with BSF production in low-level bays) and water-use

impact indicators. The former by may be more limiting at

larger production-scales in peri-urban locations. Differences

between bio-fertiliser and inorganic fertilizer applications

were less marked due relatively high contribution of direct

land and water use compared to upstream production

factors.

Interim findings documented in

Annex 4A - LCA environmental

impact assessment.

2.2 Public health risks assessed and mitigation strategies identified

MS1 MSc PHIA-thesis submitted and outcomes summarised for dissemination

Regrettably an MSc student who undertook field work in

Ghana related to this task was unable to submit a thesis for

health reasons. Two other substrate-contamination risk-

assessment activities, on heavy metals and faecal bacteria

Results documented in Annex 4C

(heavy metals analysis) and Annex

4D (faecal indicator organisms on

green market wastes)




ultimately contributed to this objective. Analysis of brewery

and fish feed waste, chicken manure and oil-extracted tilapia

offal substrate combinations, agronomy trial soils and dried

larvae for heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni) indicated low-risk

of bioaccumulation through bio-fertiliser application, or in

DMM. Bacteriological analyses using selective agars

indicated high levels of potentially pathogenic faecal

indicator organisms (FIO) on a range of fruit and vegetables

sourced from small-holder vendors in open air retail

markets, but not from the same products sourced from

supermarkets. Analysis of BSF larvae gut contents raised on

the high-risk substrates confirmed the ability to ‘clear’

pathogenic species in their digestive tracts.

Output 3 Comprehensive knowledge platform for insect

production established and used in Ghana

3.1 Online platform used by relevant stakeholders

On-station trial results contributed to development of a

‘living process manual’ for prospective adopters. This and

five short-videos (English/French) demonstrating step-wise

production steps at the ARI BSF facility, cost-benefit

demonstration and others introducing the project and

highlighting putative value-chains in Accra are hosted on the

project website. Outreach is amplified through social media

(face-book) and you-tube. Training and extension events

were embedded in on-station agronomy trials. BSF

production options and use of larvae meal as poultry dietary

ingredient were promoted by local partners at the Ghana

National farmer’s day on the 4th Dec 2015.

1. Ento-Prise BSF value-chains – English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pIkBz5lZvM 2. Ento-

Prise BSF value-chains French

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhQ1iTFRj7Y&ebc=ANyPxK

r9GT16B2OnQG9BAoP2tISr5N5hc149IYPVacS3AHMR6stqhtBa0-

akKgQM4YuKApMOmv2-NKxNbWt3USeZJ3UaAThNUQ 3. Ento-

Prise project summary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ICxp_3Vtb8 4. Setting up

a BSF system & cost benefit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwEvpxsBn34 5. Ento-

Prise linkage with other Insect projects

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQWGvpfIkc

Ento-Prise project website www.stir.ac.uk/ento-prise/

including links to staff blogs (https://entoprise.wordpress.com/, http://entopriseghana.blogspot.co.uk/2015_12_06_archive.html ) and the facebook social media site

https://www.facebook.com/entoprise/

5 videos posted on you-tube from 10th March 2016 have already been viewed 1075 times (see across) – commentary on videos at following link. http://www.entomoveproject.com/blog/2016/04/07/ento-prise-insects-black-soldier-fly/

3.2 Peer reviewed-primary research papers made available in open access-format

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pIkBz5lZvM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhQ1iTFRj7Y&ebc=ANyPxKr9GT16B2OnQG9BAoP2tISr5N5hc149IYPVacS3AHMR6stqhtBa0-akKgQM4YuKApMOmv2-NKxNbWt3USeZJ3UaAThNUQ



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ICxp_3Vtb8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwEvpxsBn34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQWGvpfIkc

http://www.stir.ac.uk/ento-prise/

https://entoprise.wordpress.com/

https://entoprise.wordpress.com/

http://entopriseghana.blogspot.co.uk/2015_12_06_archive.html

http://entopriseghana.blogspot.co.uk/2015_12_06_archive.html






MS1 Submission of 3 Scientific papers on: LCA, trial outcomes/ extension and public health impacts) to international open-access peer-reviewed journals

A short-communication on the parasitic wasp problem (see

above) was co-authored by ProteInsect Researcher E. Devic

and Ento-Prise researcher P. Maquart.

The project has produced results of sufficient quality to

merit (post-project) preparation of co-authored manuscripts

for submission to peer reviewed journals in the following

areas.

1. BSF degree day growth model (based on trials in UoS

CEF facilities - UoS lead)

2. Influence of environmental conditions on macro and

micro nutrient profiles of BSF larvae at different

growth stages (based on trials in UoS CEF facilities

UoS lead)

3. Analysis of GHG gaseous emissions from BSF

production under controlled environment conditions

(UoS lead)

4. Life cycle analysis comparing environmental impacts

of BSF co-product production and application

against prevailing commercial practices in Ghana

(UoS lead)

5. Assessment of fruit and vegetable waste suitability

for commercial BSF production in Ghana –

incorporating bacterial risk assessment (UoS, ARI)

6. FIO human pathogen risk assessment (UoS lead)

7. Effects of dietary substation of fish meal with BSF

dried larvae meal on intensive Guinea fowl

production performance (ARI lead – in draft)

8. Effects of dietary substation of fish meal with BSF

dried larvae meal on tilapia-fry production

performance and sex-reversal efficiency (UoS lead)

9. Comparison of BSF Biofertiliser, NPK and poultry

manure on irrigated vegetable production in Ghana

(based on phase 1&2 trials - GIDA, UoS)

10. Comparison of BSF Biofertiliser, NPK and poultry

manure on irrigated maize production in Ghana and

stakeholder perceptions [Based on GIDA phase 3

Devic, E., Maquart, P. Dirhinus

giffardii (Hymenoptera:

Chalcididae), parasitoid affecting

Black Soldier Fly production

systems in West Africa

Entomologia 2015; volume 3:284

Institute of Aquaculture,

University of Stirling, UK

sei.pagepress.org/index.php/entomologia/article/download/284/156




and UoS CEF trials - GIDA, UoS]

11. Lessons for BSF commercialisation in emerging

economies based on case-studies from China and

Ghana (UoS, SoU, ARI)

B. Explain factors that contributed positively to progress in your research project

1. Commitment of co-researchers responsible for coordinating pilot BSF larvae production and co-

product agronomy and livestock nutrition evaluation trials at the GIDA and ARI research stations

and commercial aquaculture partner.

2. Regular mentoring visits to by UoS project staff and longer term placement of interns and

research students (MSc and PhD) to support collaboration with local partners in Ghana.

3. Collaboration with linked EU-FP7 ProteInsect project; in particular training of Ento-Prise staff on

basic broodstock/ egg production techniques attuned to local environmental conditions. This and

immediate access to BSF production waste for biofertiliser composting, gave Ento-Prise a

significant head start in implementing its pilot BSF grow-out system and implementation of 3

separate agronomy trial phases within a relatively short-two year project cycle.

C. List challenges in your work and how they have been addressed

1. Logistical problems delaying construction of some BSF production system elements and

variability in egg production rates which had knock-on effects on ability stockpiling of maggot

meal. Whilst all planned trial work was implemented This pushed the single aquaculture nutrition

trial into the last quarter of the project.

2. Sub-optimal experimental and sample design in early phase trial and substrate collection. Early

problems were corrected in later agronomy and nutrition trial phases. In particular Dr. Richard

Quilliam (UoS) offered GIDA staff expert advice on the design of a 3rd round of agronomy trials –

which we expect will contribute to a peer-review journal output.

3. Progress toward over-coming constraints for small-holder adoption of BSF production

technology would have been enhanced through more truly collaborative multiple iterative action-

research cycles with potential end-users. Unfortunately such a strategy was constrained by the

relatively short 2-year duration of the project. However we anticipate that Ento-Prise findings will

strengthen such an approach in the follow-on CABI/ ARI IFWA project.

4. Assessing the achievements of trilateral cooperation

A. Describe how the trilateral partnership worked for this RCF project.

The partnership generally worked well with the linkage to EU FP7 ProteInsect project supporting

transfer of existing knowledge from China for its adaptive co-development by partners in Ghana.

B. What was the expected role of each of the trilateral partners?




Based on experience in insect (fly) rearing, Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) primary roles

were to contribute expertise for the waste stream nutrients and contaminants assessment (WP2)

and design and adaptation of BSF production facilities (WP3). The Animal Research Institute (ARI)

of the Government Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was responsible for

managing construction and running of the insect production units at their Ashaiman research

station with CABI support. ARI was expected to lead on nutrient analysis of BSF substrate inputs

and co-products and HZAU on health hazards analysis (biological and contaminant risks) of the

same samples. The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) was responsible for designing

and implementing bio-fertiliser trials at the Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme. Similarly ARI was

responsible for running Guinea fowl maggot meal nutrition trials at their Ashaiman facility, UoS

and CABI for coordinating tilapia nutrition (sex-reversal) trial with commercial partner Tropo

Farm. CABI was also expected to support dissemination activities consistent with its core

agricultural knowledge management mission and to provide a coherent follow-on ‘exit-strategy’

for practical application of Ento-Prise research outcomes linked to its Insects for West Africa

(IFWA) project.

C. What was the actual experience?

Expectations against assigned roles were generally well met. HZAU were respectively more and

less comfortable with the biotechnical and commercialisation aspects of the project.

Consequently to fill a key knowledge gap Dr. Wenbo Zhang of Shanghai Ocean University was

commissioned to conduct an in-depth review of the commercial status of BSF value-chains in

China in the final months of the project. GIDA and ARI performed especially well within their core

agronomy and livestock nutrition technical competencies, also adapting well to collaborative

challenges imposed by the projects highly inter-disciplinary approach.

D.

a) For Theme A projects: what was the Critical Agricultural Technology from China – how was

it tested and what was achieved?

b) For Theme B projects on value chains: how did the trilateral partnership contribute to value

chain development?

c) For Theme C projects: how did the trilateral partnership contribute to enhanced information

and knowledge flows?

Ento-Prise was a theme A project, although it also adopted an explicit value-chain approach to

evaluate commercialisation potentials. Chinese technology transfer on BSF production techniques

operated primarily through linked ProteInsect project (see above) in which both HZAU and Stirling

were partners.

E. How would you score the project, if looking only at its success in terms of trilateral

cooperation (1-5, where 1 is low, 5 is high)?




1 No co-operation

2 Co-operation was limited

3 Co-operation

was satisfactory

4 Meaningful &

good co-operation

5 Outstanding co-

operation contributing to project success

X

F. What lessons are there for future trilateral cooperation initiatives based on the experience

of this RCF project?

Effective collaboration requires close and sustained cooperation with partners to build shared

goals and trust. Representatives of UoS, 2 African partner institutions (GIDA and ARI) and HZAU

jointly participated in field visits to BSF commercial enterprises in Guangzhou after the mid-term

AgriTT progress meeting in Beijing. This proved a very successful team building exercise;

unfortunately it was not possible to coordinate a joint visit to Ghana by UoS and HZAU partners;

HZAU being able to visit Ghana only once early in the project.

5. Impact of the RCF Project

What has been learnt from your research work?

Key research findings are as follows:

- BSF bio-fertliser and maggot meal products demonstrated equivalent or superior production performance to conventional inputs in agronomy and Guinea fowl nutrition trials. Differential outcomes between Guinea fowl and aquaculture nutrition trials point to a comparative advantage for the former based on lower grow-out inclusion requirements and 17% faster growth compared to positive controls using simple substitution of whole maggot meal i.e. with no requirement for additional post-harvest processing (de-fatting) or complex formulation based on proximate analyses.

- Commercially viable aquaculture application is likely to require de-fatting of BSF larvae and balanced inclusion of the resulting BSF protein and lipids in tilapia diets. There may also be more niche application for assured quality locally produced BSF meal and lipid as fry and broodstock dietary ingredients.

- Green-market waste were identified as high potential BSF substrates based on contamination risks, opportunity-cost, seasonal and spatial availability, CHG emission profiles and BSF growth and yield assessments

- Stakeholder analysis indicates a generally highly positive attitude to potential participation in putative BSF production supply chains and consumer acceptance of plant and livestock products produced using BSF co-products.

- Commercial potential for BSF production is likely to be greatest in peri-urban areas with co-located input-output supply and demand with associated sanitation benefits.

- Simple cost-benefit analysis indicates a need for further productivity gains beyond simple linear up-scaling to justify adoption by small-holders. These might be linked to more efficient automated white larvae separation (Annex 5C) and strategic use of heating to optimise growth during early larval developmental stages.




How are the results from your project being disseminated?

Dissemination activities linked to the revised MS6 (and logframe output 3) include farmer training

and extension activities integrated in agronomy and livestock trials. Ghana and UoS production

trial findings have been incorporated in our ‘living process manual’ available for download from

the project website (http://www.stir.ac.uk/ento-prise/resources/).

Linked to the above, a series of five audio-visual presentations BSF value chains, production

techniques and cost benefit analysis have been completed and posted on the project website and

you-tube (see section 3 for web-links).

Project intern Jesse Willems gave two Ento-Prise presentations at a Newton-IUCAP workshop

‘Insect Meal: An Ocean Of Opportunities’ at the Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFF)

Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur, 9th March 2016 (i) Technical requirements for the breeding and

rearing of the Black Soldier Fly larvae, by Jesse Willems, University of Stirling, Scotland (ii) The Use

of Insects in Animal Feed – The Regulatory Position, by Jesse Willems, University of Stirling,

Scotland. Both presentation have been added to the project website and an additional ‘regulatory

status’ report developed from the second presentation (Appendi x ??).

Further details of these and other dissemination activities including staff blogs, social media

postings and press release are detailed in Annex 1A. The same Annex lists some of the individuals

who have benefitted directly from training and collaboration on the Ento-Prise project.

In what ways is uptake / wider replication of your results from your project being taken forward?

By your organization

PhD student Pierre Olivier Maquart will continue to build on Ento-Prise work; further validating

and extending findings on BSF substrate performance in controlled environmental facilities at the

University of Stirling and further aquaculture trials with a commercial partner (‘Namsai Farms’

producing sex-reversed tilapia Juveniles) in Thailand.

Other research bodies

Project partners CABI and ARI will build Ento-prise findings as part of the 6yr IFWA project (see

above).

The farming community

Ento-Prise agronomy results have also been disseminated to waste-disposal and sanitation

academy (K-AISWAM) company Zoomlion who are actively engaged in trials evaluating

performance of market-waste-based composts with small-holder farmer collectives around

Tamale.

Private sector business

One of Ghana’s largest supermarket chains has expressed interested in post project collaboration

on establishing its own pilot BSF recycling facility to remediate substantial waste in the fruit and

veg packing part of its supply chain.

http://www.stir.ac.uk/ento-prise/resources/




Namsai Farms Thailand (see above) also has a commercial interest in cooperating on production

standardization for optimization of DMM of nutritional quality for juvenile tilapia sex-reversal. Lack

of consistent assured quality in third-party fish meal supplies is perceived as important

contributory factor for residual variability in sex-reversal rates.

6. Ensuring Value for Money

Economy: What has been done over the project period to buy and employ inputs at an optimum

value-for-money price (DFID considers inputs to include: staff, consultants, raw materials and

capital to produce outputs)? In other words, what has the project done to drive down costs while

maintaining the required standards of quality? Include references to the use of any relevant unit

cost benchmarks.

The project recruited one short-term consultant to fill a knowledge gap that could not otherwise

be filled in China (see Annex 5A report on the commercial status of BSF value-chains in China).

In addition two international interns were recruited over the course of the project support

partners in the implementation of BSF production, stakeholder assessment and dissemination

work-streams in Ghana at very low financial cost to the project. Regular visits by UoS staff (at

least 3x per year) were used to assess and support progress and ensure implementation was to

the highest standard within the practical constraints on the ground.

Efficiency: How have you ensured that resources (inputs) have been used efficiently to maximise

the results achieved? Include references to the use of any relevant cost comparisons

(benchmarks) at the output level (e.g. standard training cost per trainee); and any efficiencies

gained from working in collaboration with others.

A week-long introductory training programme on BSF production techniques was provided for 5

ARI research staff involved in WP3 - ‘In-house’ through the linked FP7 ProteInsect project at their

experimental production facility (close to the GIDA Ashaiman research station).

Effectiveness: To what extent do you consider the project to be effective in bringing about the

anticipated changes for target groups? How well are the outputs of the project working towards

the achievement of the outcome?




The project made considerable progress in identifying and overcoming researchable constraints

to commercial BSF production under local conditions. However outstanding bottlenecks

(requiring further R&D effort) meant a production model sufficiently profitable to justify small-

holder adoption could not be developed within the project period. However the project did

identify good biotechnical potential for BSF co-product utilization, disseminated this knowledge

to small-scale peri-urban farmers (consistent with a revised final MS6) and devised an exit

strategy which follow-on research project (IFAW) which conduct research in the deficit areas to

support future small-holder adoption.

Are there multiplier effects from this project? E.g. potential for leveraging additional funds;

longer term or larger scale implementation; or replication of approaches and results? Where

additional funds have already been secured, how have they been used to enhance delivery?

Project findings were used leverage additional financial support for entomologist Pierre Olivier

Maquart to pursue further research that will contribute to completion of a PhD program at the

University of Stirling. The work which will focus on further improving BSF production efficiency

and aquaculture nutrition application (in Thailand) will benefit from €10,000 support from feed-

supplements company DSM Nutritional Products Ltd and £5,000 from the EU-FP7 ProteInsect

project with its overlapping research aims.

7. Detailed Project Scoring

Use the five-point scoring system below to rate your achievement of results, based on the details

that were set out in your logframe.

Complete what has been ‘achieved’ under each outcome and output indicator in your logframe. Add or delete tables depending on the number of outputs that you defined.

Provide an overall score against the outcome and each output.

Provide a justification for each outcome and output score describing the progress made against the outcome or output indicators. Do not simply describe activities.

Back up statements of results/achievements with references to evidence that can be checked if necessary, and comment on the strength of evidence provided.

Score Description of Score

A++ Output/outcome substantially exceeded expectation

A+ Output/outcome moderately exceeded expectation

A Output/outcome met expectation

B Output/outcome moderately did not meet expectation




C Output/outcome substantially did not meet expectation

Note on completion of Section 7: Full progress narratives and evidence against indicators and milestones are given in section 3 (and section 2); further explanation of any over or under achievement is given below.

OUTCOME

A.0.1 Outcome: write in full your project outcome in the box below

Pro-poor livelihood opportunities created in Ghana through adaptation of Chinese insect production

systems to support more sanitary and value-added local recycling of agricultural and municipal

organic waste streams (producing high quality agricultural biofertilisers and livestock feed

ingredients).

A.0.2 Outcome Score: Please provide an overall outcome score (C – A++)

B

A.0.3 Justify the score: The score is based on an aggregate of actual achievement against

outcome indicator milestones in the logframe. Please explain how you determined this

score.

High biotechnical potential demonstrated for locally produced BSF co-products as substitutes for

conventional agricultural fertilisers and dietary ingredients for intensive poultry production (see

Section 3).

A.0.4 For each of the indicators: Write in full each outcome indicator as included in most

recently approved logframe and provide a narrative clarification of progress achieved

against the relevant indicator milestone, including an explanation of any over or under

achievement.

Indicator 1: Commercial scale insect-based transformation of waste adopted by small and medium

enterprises (SME) in Ghana. Milestone: Adoption by 4 SMEs

Revised linked to project MS6 (justification in section 2). Further research is required to enhance

and assure stability of BSF larval yields for increased labour productivity to improve economic

justification for small-holder adoption (see Section 2).

Indicator 2: Insect-based biofertlisers and feeds utilised by small-holder (vegetable and backyard

poultry/ farmers) farmers, especially women in Ghana. Milestone: Adoption by 15 small holders (5

M, 10 F)

Revised linked to project MS6 (justification in section 2). Good biotechnical potential (see above)

and positive stakeholder attitudes were demonstrated – but small-holder adoption remains

constrained by higher costs of biofertiliser compared to conventional inputs at the current state of




BSF production efficiency.

OUTPUT 1

A.1.1 Output 1 Write in full

Commercial-scale Insect production system and co-products evaluated for economic performance

A.1.2 Output 1 score (C – A++)

A+

A.1.3 Justify the score: The score is based on an aggregate of actual achievement against output

indicator milestones in the logframe. Please explain how you determined this score.

A comprehensive mix of inter-disciplinary tasks (across WPs 2, 3 & 4) were successfully completed,

ultimately contributing to a BSF production cost-benefit analysis. These included stakeholder

analysis, substrate availability/ opportunity cost assessments ( contaminants assessments, BSF larval

growth and nutritional quality trials contributed to the screening of a wide range of candidate

substrates (including poultry and pig manures, tilapia processing offal, municipal organic waste,

fruit and vegetable waste from processing and informal and formal market sectors), final selection

of green market wastes reliably sourced from open air retail markets as high potential substrates.

A.1.4 For each of the indicators: Write in full each indicator as included in most recently

approved logframe and provide a narrative clarification of progress achieved against the

relevant indicator milestone, including an explanation of any over or under achievement

(add extra rows if required).

Indicator 1.1: At least 3 high-potential waste streams shortlisted & procurement agreements

finalised with suppliers. Milestone: Waste streams for insect-based transformation mapped and

parametised

High potential substrates were identified based on a range of biotechnical and socio-economic

criteria (Section 3) and a generalised indicator-based decision tree approach for substrate selection

was also developed for wider application (summarised in Annex 1a).

Indicator 1.2: Insect-rearing technology adapted to local environmental and socio-economic

conditions. Milestones: (i) Models with commercial potential identified for trials (ii) Maggot

production is operational and parameterized

Both MS achieved – see narratives in Section 3.

A considerable body of additional research on BSF production performance was carried out under

controlled environmental conditions in CEF at the University of Stirling during the final reporting

period. This included a (i) second iteration of (scheduled) gaseous emissions work, (ii) a

comprehensive assessment of BSF larval growth and yield performance at a range of fixed




temperatures (& humidity) from 25-39oC for construction of a ‘degree-day’ (DD) production model

(iii) a comprehensive macro and micro nutrient profile of BSF larvae (& substrates) along the DD

growth-curves and (iv) a fourth round of BSF biofertiliser agronomy trials on onions in pots.

Items (i), (ii) and (iii) together provide a basis for optimised production scheduling based on growth,

nutrition and environmental performance. The trials also provided further insight into simple steps

for assessment of egg viability (based on ‘eyeing’), substrate moisture requirements, & larval weight

length ratios – all of which contribute to husbandry recommendations in the BSF process manual.

Indicator 1.3: Insect co-products produced that can be as cost effective or superior to commercially

available controls. Milestone: Economic performance of co-products evaluated against commercial

alternatives

Achieved in 3 phases of BSF biofertiliser agronomy trials and 3 BSF larvae livestock nutrition trials -

See narratives in section 3.

As only 3 trials (1 agronomy and 2 livestock) trials were envisaged within the 2yr project-period; 6

in-country trials represents significant additionality. This was facilitated through training on pilot BSF

production techniques and early access to BSF biofertiliser through the linked EU-FP7 ProteInsect

project during the first months of the project.

A further, a fourth round of agronomy trials conducted in controlled environmental facilities at

Stirling will give further insight into the effects of BSF biofertiliser on soil fertility as well as crop

(onion) yield (results of this, the 3rd phase of GIDA trials and BSF stakeholder perceptions work in

Ghana will contribute to a high quality peer-reviewed journal article.

Output 2

A.2.1 Output 2 Write in full in the box below

Commercial-scale Insect production and biofertiliser evaluated for public health, environmental

performance and social acceptance


A


output indicator milestones in the logframe. Please explain how you determined this

score.

Environmental (LCA) assessment achieved using primary data from BSF production and co-product

agronomy and livestock nutrition trials in Ghana and CEF in Stirling. Public health assessment

comprised of substrate heavy metal contaminants analysis (China) and faecal bacteria contamination

analysis (Ghana, UK) - See narratives in section 3.








Indicator 2.1: Life cycle environmental impacts of insect-based and conventional waste-stream

management strategies quantified. Milestones: (i) 'Life-cycle inventory-phase completed (ii) Life

cycle impacts of insect and conventional waste-stream remediation of target substrates quantified

Two phases of CEF gaseous emissions trials for greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment in Stirling went

beyond the one originally planned (see indicator 1.2 above).

Indicator 2.2: Public health risks assessed and mitigation strategies identified. Milestones: MSc

PHIA-thesis submitted and outcomes summarised for dissemination

The envisaged MSc thesis was not submitted (due to staff health reasons). In lieu of this deficit; UoS

environmental public health specialist Dr Richard Quilliam visited Ghana to implement a faecal

bacterial risk assessment with ARI food-safety staff. Results confirm the ability of BSF larvae to

mitigate these risks.

Output 3

A.3.1 Output 3 Write in full in the box below

Comprehensive knowledge platform for insect production established and used in Ghana.


A


output indicator milestones in the logframe. Please explain how you determined this

score.

See narratives in section 3.





Indicator 3.1: Online platform used by relevant stakeholders: Milestone: Report summarising

website user metadata

See narratives and evidence in section 3

Indicator 3.2: Peer reviewed-primary research papers made available in open access-format:

Milestone: Submission of 3 Scientific papers on: LCA, trial outcomes/ extension and public health




impacts) to international open-access peer-reviewed journals.

Analyses are being finalised and papers are in different draft stages in each of these 3 subject areas.

A full list of potentially up to 10 co-authored papers is given in section 3.

8. Other matters

This section is open and allows you to draw the attention of the PMO or DFID to any matter in relation to your grant or the project that you wish to identify.

A great deal of activity including one agronomy, two livestock nutrition trials, value chain

stakeholder perceptions survey s, multiple dissemination activities in Ghana and BSF larvae

temperature growth, nutritional quality and gaseous emissions trials in controlled environment

facilities (Stirling) was concentrated in the final reporting period. As most of these activities were

only completed in February and early March2016, further in-depth analysis of some results is

ongoing (particularly for BSF larval macro and micro nutrient assays and a soil fertility and yield

assessments for bio-fertiliser trials including a final CEF onion agronomy trial). Journal submission

of planned co-authored peer reviewed articles associated with these activities will inevitably fall

out with the funded project period.

Thank you for completing this report form.

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