By Yemisi Suleiman

In a bid to revolutionise sustainable agriculture in Nigeria, the Grace Foundation, an outreach of The Grace Tribe Church, Lagos, in collaboration with the Agricultural Social Entrepreneurship Foundation (ASEF), has graduated 31 participants from its innovative Waste4Meal project.

The initiative, which leverages black soldier fly (BSF) larvae to convert organic waste into high-protein animal feed and organic fertiliser, aims to tackle food waste while promoting environmental conservation and economic empowerment.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on Sunday, April 13, at The Grace Tribe Church, Satellite Town Lagos, Adebayo Rosemary Omoyeni, Chief Executive Officer of ASEF, said “This ambitious regenerative agriculture project harnesses the remarkable capabilities of the BSF to transform organic waste into valuable resources.”

With over 70 percent of Nigerians engaged in agriculture, the project Adebayo says, particularly focuses on empowering women, who constitute nearly 60 percent of Africa’s agricultural workforce. It seeks to reduce dependency on conventional protein sources like fishmeal and soybean, while simultaneously enriching soil quality through the use of BSF frass as fertiliser.

One of the lead facilitator of the Waste4Meal project Azeez Oluwole said the project which started small is a new horizon for Nigeria’s agriculture, and it is supported by 16 partner firms.

According to Azeez, “Waste4Meal is a completely decentralised agricultural project. There is company for security, access to intellectual training, finance, etc. The lead organisation is ASEF International, an NGO from the Netherlands, which is championing globally this multi-dimensional project. “I am passionate about this project because Nigeria is having an agricultural innovation and we are rebuilding things” he said.

President of the Grace Foundation, Deacon Philip Okuabor, highlighted the impact of the training programme, which equipped participants with skills to convert waste into usable agricultural inputs. He stated that the programme not only empowers individuals with essential skills but also contributes to a more sustainable future. “We are thrilled to see these graduates equipped to make a real impact in the nation with the knowledge acquired,” he said.

The Waste4Meal model is backed by international and local partners including New Generation Nutrition, Gonastocks, Fidas Africa, and Guardian Angel Services. ASEF’s long-term vision includes training 100,000 African youths, 12,000 in Ghana alone, with further expansions planned for Kenya and South Africa.

The organisers noted that, as the world grapples with increasing waste and the challenges of food production, the Waste4Meal initiative serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating how innovation and collective efforts can lead to transformative change. The Grace Foundation and ASEF are committed to expanding this programme, aiming to inspire more individuals to join the movement towards a greener and more sustainable future. The programme’s success, also signals a promising shift in agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and food security across the continent.