Central Province poultry farm halves feed costs with black soldier fly, wins Innovation PNG award
A small poultry farm half an hour from Port Moresby has shown what black soldier fly (BSF) farming can do for PNG growers. Valana Poultry BSF Integrated Agro Farm won the Small Business category at the 2026 Innovation PNG Awards after cutting its feed bill roughly in half.
Key facts
- Who: Valana Poultry BSF Integrated Agro Farm, along the Magi Highway in Central Province
- What: Black soldier fly larvae, raised on kitchen scraps, garden waste and chicken manure, used as a protein supplement for poultry
- Result: Feed had been about 70% of the farm’s costs. The farm says it now saves up to 50% on stock feed
- Recognition: Innovation PNG Award for Small Business, sponsored by Kina Bank, announced 3 June 2026
From waste to feed on one farm
Like many PNG poultry producers, the farm was squeezed by the price of commercial feed, most of which is imported. Since July 2025 it has been feeding organic waste to BSF larvae and giving the larvae to its chickens as a high-protein supplement.
“I now save up to 50 per cent on stock feed because I produce my own feed supplement,” spokesperson Jamie Solien Lalana told Business Advantage PNG. Lalana described the method as “a simple and affordable farming tool that can help many families reduce feed costs”.
Why the award matters
The Innovation PNG Awards, run by Business Advantage PNG, recognise practical new ideas in the PNG economy. Valana was one of six small businesses shortlisted in May 2026 and was named the winner at a breakfast at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby on 3 June 2026. The win puts a working, home-grown BSF business in front of investors, banks and policymakers.
What it means for PNG
Valana’s results match what researchers have reported elsewhere: when feed is the biggest cost, even a partial switch to larvae grown on waste can change a small farm’s profits. PNG Beyond50 Foundation wants to help more farmer groups copy this model, starting with a shared BSF facility at Edai Town.