A local black-soldier-fly-frass-based alternative to fertilisers imported into New Caledonia
The New Caledonian biotechnology company, Neofly, is developing a new local alternative to fertilisers imported into the territory. Their goal: propose a virtuous circular economy model for New Caledonia by manufacturing premium quality organic fertiliser based on the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, in island settings. An innovation available for sale to professionals and private customers expected in 2027.
As part of its support for production of agricultural and livestock sector inputs from local organic-agriculture-certifiable resources, the EU-funded PROTEGE project implemented by SPC assigned NEOFLY and two of its partners (Biocalédonia and Adecal-Technopole) with the task of conducting, from June 2022 to August 2023, an initial assessment of the potential of ingredients based on locally produced black soldier flies.
From August to November 2024, Neofly will be conducting a new operation aimed at promoting BSF frass as organic fertilizer to promote the competitiveness and carbon footprint of plant-based industries in island settings.
This low-carbon fertilizer comes from using frass, a by-product of their processes to bioconvert agricultural and agri-food waste into flours and oils intended for aquacultural and animal feeds.
By increasing the water retention capacity of the soil, use of this organic fertiliser contributes to a rational use of water resources and improves soil structure, making it less sensitive to periods of drought and more resilient to climate change.
The EU-funded PROTEGE project implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) supports initiatives for the sustainable and climate-change-resilient development of the economies of European Pacific overseas countries and territories (OCTs).
[Video] - Enhancing Pacific Island resilience through the use of black soldier fly larvae
