Title: Black soldier fly larvae as a sustainable feed solution for small-scale fish farmers in Ghana

Ivan Kaleo's final project will be published in due time. Until then we share the abstract and a link to a poster.

Aquaculture in Ghana, particularly among small-scale farmers, faces persistent challenges, such as high commercial feed costs and limited access to sustainable alternatives. This study investigated the use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as a cost-effective, locally sourced, and environmentally sustainable feed ingredient for Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus. This study aimed to formulate affordable BSFL-based diets using local ingredients, assess the economic viability of small-scale BSFL production, propose supportive policy measures, and provide practical guidance for implementation. Literature reviews, training manuals, and video documentaries were used to identify the best practices for rearing BSFL. Microsoft Excel was used to design nutritionally balanced BSFL-based diets and conduct breakeven analysis and profitability comparisons with conventional commercial feeds. The results showed that BSFL-based feeds can reduce feed costs by up to 21% compared to commercial options, with potential savings of 25–35% and a return on investment of up to 393% under favourable production scenarios. BSFL production was found to be financially viable for small-scale farmers, with short payback periods across various cost scenarios. A user-friendly BSFL production manual was developed, tailored to the needs of small-scale black soldier fly larvae production in Ghana. Institutional support from the Fisheries Commission, Rural Enterprises Project, and farmer cooperatives is critical for adoption. The study recommends that farmer cooperatives co-establish BSFL units to reduce operational costs and enhance shared benefits for all parties involved. Government investment in BSFL training and infrastructure is also encouraged to support the broader adoption of BSFL. Farmers are advised to source organic waste inputs locally, such as from market or agricultural waste, to minimise transportation costs and improve profitability.