Insect4feed: A sustainable solution for livestock feed

25 October 2023

On 9 October, the IITA Business Incubation Platform (BIP), with the Dutch government and other partners, launched the Insect4feed Entrepreneur Incubation Program to train participants to create sustainable and nutritious feed for the livestock industries.

BIP Business Development Officer Victoria Ayeni introduced the dignitaries, facilitators, and entrepreneurs who participated in the program physically and virtually.

BIP Chief Executive Officer and Director Debo Akande welcomed the participants to the 13-week program. He urged the entrepreneurs to maximize the opportunity provided by the practical sessions to have a robust outcome in production afterward. He said, “This training is bringing a more structured approach to the Insects4Feed project in Nigeria and this is supported by the Dutch government and NGN. And they are doing what we call proof of concept within IITA to understand whether it is technically and economically viable. When all these are known, we can ask the private sector to start engaging.”

Feeds have become a major problem in Nigeria now, especially for the poultry industries, this project is going to complement and reduce the high cost of the feeds through training entrepreneurs who are like the first pilot that will be the venture owners of this business within the state and when growth is achieved, it becomes a project that will be expanded beyond this space.

Ayeni said, “The project is efficient, and livestock farmers can get alternative protein for livestock feed in affordable and accessible ways.” All the food waste in homes and the market can be used to feed the insects, thereby generating the required protein that is needed for the livestock industry resulting to a balanced economy as nothing is wasted.

Contributed by Esther Moses