Embargo Period
8-6-2025
Degree Name
MA in Sustainable Development
First Advisor
Dr. Joseph W. Lanning
Abstract
Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae offer a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers and conventional feed inputs such as soy, fishmeal, and maize bran in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, where smallholder farmers grapple with declining soil fertility, high input prices, chronic food insecurity, and livestock nutritional challenges, BSF farming is emerging as a promising circular agricultural innovation. Despite its technical promise, the social, economic, and ecological realities of BSF adoption remain underexplored.This study investigates the early implementation of BSF farming in Malawi through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, focusing on farmer experiences, challenges, and the social and structural processes shaping uptake of the practice. Data were collected through 10 key informant interviews and 60 semi-structured surveys with current, former, or prospective BSF farmers. Qualitative analysis, descriptive insights, and logistic regression models were used to examine the barriers to entry, drivers of sustained adoption, and overall livelihood strategies emerging from BSF engagement. Findings suggest that integrating BSF farming into livestock systems and selling BSF products were the most common livelihood pathways, often pursued in tandem. Income support and technical training emerged as significant predictors of sustained adoption, while challenges related to start-up capital access, feedstock shortages, technical knowledge gaps, and uncertain market linkages persist. These findings highlight the need for material support and capacity-building interventions to enable equitable and scalable livelihoods through BSF farming. Interview insights further emphasize the importance of strengthening farmer networks, expanding market access, and harnessing government support to fully realize BSF’s potential with Malawi’s evolving agricultural landscape.
Disciplines
Agriculture | Aquaculture and Fisheries | Development Studies | Entomology | Food Security | Nature and Society Relations | Other Animal Sciences | Social and Cultural Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Herriott, Emily, "From Larvae to Livelihoods: Examining the Realities of Black Soldier Fly Farming in Malawi" (2025). Capstone Collection. 3340.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/3340
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Development Studies Commons, Entomology Commons, Food Security Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons