Transforming waste, sustaining the future: a new guide to black soldier fly systems

Waste is everywhere. It accumulates  in open dumps, unmanaged landfills, and clogs the arteries of growing cities. Meanwhile, valuable nutrients are lost, and methane -- a potent greenhouse gas -- silently escapes into the atmosphere. Organic waste, in particular, is both a burden and a missed opportunity. But what if this waste could become the foundation of a circular economy? What if it could nourish animals, enrich soils, and empower communities -- all while cutting emissions?

A new report from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) offers just that vision. Transforming Organic Waste with Black Soldier Flies is more than a technical doument -- it’s a practical guide for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators seeking to turn a pressing environmental challenge into a regenerative opportunity. It lays out a roadmap for how black soldier fly (BSF) technology can contribute to cleaner air, greener agriculture, and inclusive economic development.

Rethinking organic waste through circularity

BSF larvae are voracious converters of waste. In just two weeks, they can reduce organic waste volumes by up to 80%, transforming them into protein-rich biomass and a nutrient-dense soil enhancer known as frass. Unlike traditional composting, BSF systems offer multiple outputs of high value: insect meal for animal feed, fat for biofuels or cosmetics, chitin and melanin for pharmaceuticals, and organic fertilizers for regenerative agriculture. The result? A rapid, modular, affordable and scalable technology that fits squarely within the goals of a circular economy.

The environmental benefits are clear. Diverting food waste from landfills not only reduces methane emissions -- one of the key short-lived climate pollutants targeted by the Global Methane Pledge -- but also lowers the carbon footprint of livestock and aquaculture feed by replacing resource-intensive inputs like fishmeal and soy. For every ton of food waste treated with BSF instead of landfilling, up to 900 kg of CO₂-equivalent emissions can be avoided.

But the potential of BSF goes beyond climate. In East Africa, thousands of smallholder farmers are already using BSF to raise poultry and fish, reduce feed costs, and improve food security. In Asia and Europe, multi-million-dollar facilities are producing insect protein for global markets. From micro-scale household units to high-tech industrial plants, the report shows how BSF can be adapted to meet a wide range of livelihood, social, economic, and environmental needs.
 

Introducing the BSF system templates
 

One of the key contributions of the report is the introduction of six BSF system templates. These archetypes represent the diversity of real-world BSF operations, helping stakeholders match their context and goals with appropriate technologies. The templates include:

• Micro-scale home systems for household waste and backyard poultry;
• The Simplified BSF Approach (SIMBA) suited to rural entrepreneurs and farmer cooperatives;
• Centralized tropical facilities, like those in Tanzania and Uganda, that serve regional waste processing and protein production;
• Container-based or decentralized systems, enabling flexible, mobile operations close to waste sources;
• Medium to large-scale urban facilities designed for standardized outputs and economies of scale;
• Large-scale industrial pioneers, which deploy advanced automation and climate control for international feed markets.
   

Each system is further broken down into system modules -- functional units such as waste collection, pretreatment, feeding, bioconversion, harvesting, and processing. These modules offer a toolbox of options, from low-tech wheelbarrows to automated conveyor belts, allowing users to configure solutions that are both context-specific and scalable.

The report’s modular approach makes it easy to see where costs can be optimized, where partnerships may be needed, and where innovation can unlock new value. It is especially useful for funders, implementers, and local authorities who need to assess trade-offs between capital investment, labour availability, energy demand, and regulatory compliance.

Real-world challenges -- and how to overcome them

While the promise of BSF is compelling, the report does not overlook the real-world challenges of implementation. It candidly explores the hurdles faced by early adopters: inconsistent feedstock supply, costly infrastructure, complex reproduction cycles, and regulatory uncertainty. Many of the same challenges that face conventional animal farming apply here -- only with fewer decades of experience and precedent to fall back on.
 

One of the biggest risks is mismatched scaling. Rushing to build large, expensive facilities without fully understanding the operational dynamics can lead to inefficiencies, high overheads, and disappointing returns. The report recommends incremental scaling and modular expansion, allowing operators to learn, adapt, and refine their processes over time.
 

It also emphasizes the need for feedstock partnerships -- with food processors, breweries, markets, or municipalities -- to ensure a steady supply of organic waste. Decentralized models can reduce transport costs and improve resilience. For smallholders, the focus is on simplifying daily operations and integrating BSF farming into routine agricultural practices -- much like beekeeping.
 

On the regulatory side, the report advocates for clear, enabling frameworks that support safe feedstock use, product quality standards, and market access. Too often, the lack of specific insect farming regulations leaves operators in a legal grey zone. Strong engagement between governments, industry associations, and civil society is needed to unlock the full potential of the sector.

Who is this report for?

Transforming Organic Waste with Black Soldier Flies is aimed at a wide audience: national and local governments drafting waste and climate policies; investors looking for scalable green technologies; entrepreneurs searching for climate-smart business ideas; NGOs and development agencies designing circular economy programs; and researchers exploring sustainable protein sources.

By combining technical depth with system-level thinking, the report offers a practical, grounded framework for making decisions. Whether the goal is to reduce municipal waste, produce local animal feed, or generate carbon credits, the guide can help identify the right pathway -- and the right partners -- to get there.

Toward a regenerative future

At its core, this is not just a report about insects. It is a call to see waste differently -- to recognize the latent value in what we discard, and to build systems that restore rather than deplete. The black soldier fly offers us an unlikely ally in that mission. With the right investments, partnerships, and policies, this tiny insect could help reshape how we think about waste, food, and the future.