Co-digestion of faecal matter with kitchen waste using the Black Soldier Fly (Kenya)

Sustainable management of faecal matter is a prevailing challenge especially in the Global South. The study assessed Black Soldier Fly (BSF) process performance during co-digestion of faecal matter using kitchen waste (FM:KW) at different ratios. 1 kg of each substrate was treated utilizing 5 g of 5-day old BSF larvae, one hundred larvae were randomly picked at three-days intervals from each treatment to monitor the larval weight gain across the treatment process. Larval days to 50% pupation, mean pupal yield, waste reduction (WR), bioconversion (BR), and feed conversion (FCR) rates were monitored for the process performance. The results showed that the substrate ratio 1:1 attained the best measures of high WR, BR, FCR and pre-pupal yield within a shorter duration. Further, the larval weight gain was modelled using the modified Gompertz model to assess the optimal harvest time. In future, the methodology will pave way for effective treatment and valorization of faecal matter from onsite sanitation facilities, manage organic municipal wastes, and provide alternative animal feed and bio-fertilizer for agriculture.