Here’s a thought on black soldier fly (BSF) farming across Africa: how might we valorise the carbon emissions it helps avoid? Imagine the possibility for smaller African BSF farmers across the continent to somehow quantify and aggregate those benefits, and in the process get critical additional revenue from voluntary carbon credits. Footprints Africa and The Bug Picture are giving some thought about the potential of BSF farming in Africa to do just that. We’ve a hunch that this could do something remarkable: empowering farmers, increasing the sector’s impact, and helping global businesses clean up their African supply chains. In other words, this could be something that can help buttress a great but still nascent business model that tackles multiple, pressing challenges for the continent. Naturally there are some big old questions to answer to get there. We're onto them (but we will need help). Does the idea sound promising to you? What would have to be true for it to work? And, if so, are you interested in coming with us on this journey? Joanna Bingham Laura Stanford Laura Martinussen George C Thorpe Murhula Zigabe Guido Sam Smout Gertrude Dadzie Chris Zurbrügg Anja Schwetje David Tavernor Erik Roos Lindgreen, PhD, Randy Adjei BioBuu Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) Robin Sundaram Climate & Clean Air Coalition The Rockefeller Foundation Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) International Food Waste Coalition ICIPE - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology C40 Cities Piotr Barczak PREVENT Waste Alliance Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) #blacksoldierfly #voluntarycarbonmarkets Picture credit: Oktavianus Mulyadi
hi Hugo, as we spoke recently, my oopinion is that certainly a tool to help calculate the C reduction potential though BSF and aggregate, is useful. We work on it too. With EAWAG who has some previous assessements - ie here: https://www.eawag.ch/fileadmin/Domain1/Abteilungen/sandec/publikationen/SWM/BSF/bsf_assessment_global_warming.pdf and also important that the focus you suggest is on small scale farmers, ast his is them who usealluy cannot access funding. However, I hesitate to endorse the idea or carbon credits, even if done for good- for the sector I am super passionate about and I want it to grow massively. Carbon offsetting proved not to work, proved not to meet its purpose - to reduce the emissions. Companies chose can easily offset and continue or even increase their carbon emissions. Maybe a scope to look at are the intergovernmental carbon credits schemes that are more bound to reduction and transparent. Preferably, I'd look into other sources of climate financing - ie the methane emissions reductions funds. and other , for agri sector.
I introduced small scale-mini BSF composting units (8sqm) for poor households in the slums/Ghetto of Kampla-Uganda. And one important lessons was the units generate little revenue making them un attractive for many to sustain the operation. I believe adding #Carbon #credits to the business models will make a big diference to scaling and sustaining small scale BSF farming. Excited to exploring more about the topic... See our work here;- https://youtu.be/Q2wU3OEEmG4?si=t2zXgzlUXHi6OChH
Could you please elaborate on how these avoid carbon emissions?
Kevin Getobai is working on a similar project in Uganda I believe...
Cies Roskam
1w
Very interesting concept which I am mentioning for quite some time. Pricing CO2 would generate a whole new future for our grandchildren. Just have a think about it.... But even without get paid to reduce GHG emissions (methane mostly), it is still a honorable thing to do! Not sure what GHG means? Keep scrolling! Final point.. How can I help ?
Calvin Botes
1w
heck yes we would be willing to come with on this Journey! The Carbon economy is a huge global initiative and with BSF farming in Africa being a carbon negitive practice all farms can benefit financially from the carbon credits produced, these funds can then be us to grow the business across the continent enriching Africa and helping the world reach it climate goals! I Look forward to seeing how this project progresses!
Talya Shalev
5d
Very well put Hugo Warner. We have just released an episode celebrating a Kenyan business who are well on their way to being one of the lead suppliers of BSF larvae in the region who we'd be very happy to connect you with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QECfxbwsTqs
La iniciativa es genial, pero requiere de un robusto apoyo de politicas de Estado a corto, mediano y largo plazo. Siempre habran RSU solo se necesita tomar decisiones reales para su bioconversion y posibilidad de Mano de Obra estable.
Building stuff that flourishes
1wShould you be curious on the reasons why we believe in the importance of this work, here's a little background information: An overview of The Bug Picture’s BSF project portfolio: https://thebugpicture.com/#bsf Footprints’ work showing the carbon negativity of BSF: /https://irp.cdn-website.com/40a0e554/files/uploaded/Measurement%20report-R8.pdf Information on Footprints' hotseat work tackling BSF farmers’ hardest challenges: https://irp.cdn-website.com/40a0e554/files/uploaded/Revised-Hotseat-Black%20soldier%20fly.pdf