WELCOME
Welcome to Edge Protein, a project focused on addressing environmental, agricultural and climate issues using insect technology.
MISSION
VISION
To lead the sustainable production and adoption of economically and environmentally friendly alternatives to plant protein for livestock and humans through harmless insect culturing.
To be the company that makes agriculture a good business for farmers; makes sustainable and safe food for animals and humans while ensuring that the environment remains habitable for future generations.
WHAT WE DO
At Edge Protein, we use the black soldier fly (BSF) to address the current and future challenges in sustainable food production; waste management; climate action, inland water transportation and human empowerment. We farm BSF to get its larva which has a higher protein level than soy bean and is comparable to fish meal. The larva can be used to replace soy bean and fish meal in livestock feed. Other byproducts from farming BSF larva is the frass which is a highly potent organic fertilizer and BSF oil which has application in the cosmetics and livestock feed production industries.
​
Because the BSF in its larva stage is a voracious eater and consumes organic waste, we see the opportunity it presents to reduce organic waste in Nigeria which has been a problem for a long time because it is indiscriminately disposed; thereby, causing greenhouse gas emissions and multiplying disease-causing agents in the environment. With the high cost of livestock feed and organic fertilizer which has resulted in farmers shutting down, we are confident that we bring a viable solution to the problems farmers are currently facing in Nigeria.
​
Organic waste such as market waste, farm waste and aquatic plants is the major input in our production. At Edge Protein, we learned from our production trial that we can use insect farming and software technology to catalyse human empowerment.
OUR PRODUCTS
BSF larva has high levels of protein, essential amino acids, energy, and micronutrients suitable for poultry, cattle and fish.
​
The protein is of high biological value, with high concentration in lysine, threonine and methionine.
​
Mass production of BSF requires less surface area and shorter maturity period than plant based protein source.
​
It is cost effective for crop farmers​.
​
It improves soil structure, water retention, and microbial activity.
​
It has no negative environmental impact.
It has similar properties found in coconut oil.
​
It contains lauric acid which promotes gut health and immunity for animals when used for feed production.
​
It contains anti-microbial properties useful in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries..
EDGE PROTEIN AND THE SDGS
There is a waste problem across all regions in Nigeria. If indiscriminately disposed, our waste could pollute the environment through the emission of greenhouse gases which result in climate change.
With BSF larva, we get to mop up organic waste and reduce environmental hazards caused by improper waste management. This way, we can have a safer environment.
Being a source of high protein comparable to what is gotten from soy bean and fish meal, BSF larva is an excellent choice for animal feed. Some humans even feed on it! Farmers no longer have to be overwhelmed by the high cost of soy bean and fish meal as BSF larva presents itself as a suitable alternative.
One of the byproducts gotten from BSF larva known as the frass is also a great choice of organic fertilizer. When thinking sustainable agriculture, we must think BSF.
One of the greatest enemies of our water bodies is aquatic plants. They are notorious for clogging waterways, reducing oxygen levels in water, altering water chemistry and impeding water transportation.
During our production trial, we discovered that the BSF larva can be used to recycle these invasive plants. Our project offers an opportunity to salvage millions of hectares of water bodies plagued by aquatic plants across the country.
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by indiscriminately disposed waste helps in controlling climate change and preserving our dear planet.
The availability of BSF larva as a protein source for livestock also reduces the stress on aquatic life caused by overfishing to produce fish meal. The eradication of invasive aquatic plants also reduces biodiversity loss in aquatic environment.
Our project adopts communal approach to waste gathering and sourcing by engaging women and young people in inland and riverine communities through a system we have designed. This system gives those we engage a sense of purpose and ownership in the effort to rid their communities of organic waste.
We found out that the challenge in this project is not the absence of organic waste but sourcing and coordinating waste collection from the field to our premises. We have an online and offline approach to solving this challenge. While we work to design the online platform, the offline platform is ready to be deployed. Apart from operational ease, other advantages of the online approach is data collection to aid in planning our operations and guiding policy makers in the waste management space.
