The growing relationship between the research centre of Ndejje University and the Women Income network is one to reminisce. We started the collaborative research championed by the two research students Gift and Jude from Ndejje University who will pursue this study as their final year research project with help of WIN personnel.
The two students will be undertaking research entitled a Biotechno-economic evaluation of a maggot driven solid waste management facility;A regenerative agricultural approach.
Our Board adviser Roice Bwambale who sparked this essential relationship between the organisation and the research centre which emphasises that the students will contribute to the to the innovativeness of processes and operations at the organisation while bringing new insights in improving the sustainability of projects at WIN.
Maggot farming, particularly using black soldier fly larvae technology (BSFL) to consume the organic waste, emerges as a sustainable approach, efficiently reducing the organic waste and producing valuable products such as animal feeds, biodiesel, chitin, and biofertilizer which enhance the economy through revenue generated from the sale of these valuable products and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers which are costly, and enhance agriculture, meeting the demand for affordable protein sources in animal feed, hence contributing to the economic aspect and as well promoting a regenerative agriculture approach. Lastly, the environment stands to benefit from this process as the GHG emissions that would be emitted to the atmosphere by the waste are instead avoided when the wastes are converted into valuable products with less emission to the atmosphere.
This study aims to conduct a biotechno-economic evaluation of maggot facilitated waste management system, evaluating the biotechnical and economic feasibility of the facility and its environmental benefit relating to the GHG emissions potentially avoided in operating such a facility by using a case study maggot farm owned and operated by the Women Income Network in Uganda, our organisation is committed to promoting maggot farming among women and youth.
Thus, the significance of this research is to provide valuable information and insights to agricultural practitioners, policy makers, waste managers and investors offering maggot farming as a viable eco-friendly solution that contributes to both waste reduction and a regenerative agriculture approach in Uganda. We are intentional in being a big contributor to the solid waste management policies and system of the country while bringing a great definition of climate resilience through our evidence-based research and development.