PNG moves toward a national standard for black soldier fly farming
Black soldier fly farming is still new in Papua New Guinea, but the groundwork for doing it safely and at scale is being laid. The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) are discussing a national standard for BSF farming.
Key facts
- Training: PNG participants joined a month-long course at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 25 April to 23 May 2025, organised by ACIAR
- Who took part: Researchers from NARI, the PNG University of Technology (Unitech), Edai Town and Lae City Mission, plus NISIT
- Next step: A national standard to make BSF farming “accessible and acceptable” to communities
- Research roots: NARI principal scientist Dr Michale Dom first found BSF larvae in a bin of fermented cassava in 2009 and has studied them as fish feed
Why a standard matters
NISIT project coordinator Max Kadobu, who attended the Nairobi course, told The National that “standards are essential tools for achieving sustainability”. A standard would set out how larvae are reared, what waste can be used and how feed and frass are handled, giving farmers, buyers and regulators confidence in BSF products.
Building on regional links
The training followed a 2024 knowledge exchange in which Pacific delegates, including Unitech’s Dr Janet Pandi, visited icipe and Kenyan insect farms, and a return visit by African scientists to Fiji, Vanuatu and PNG. Unitech has since proposed adding BSF studies to its Animal Science curriculum and researching BSF for livestock feed and organic fertiliser.
What it means for PNG
A national standard, together with trained researchers in Port Moresby, Lae and Edai Town, means communities that start BSF units will have clear rules and local experts to call on. It is one reason PNG Beyond50 Foundation is backing a dedicated BSF facility at Edai Town.