Prospects of implementing black soldier fly (BSF) selective breeding in Kenya and Uganda: Status from the FlyGene Project

Abstract

The demand for sustainable and efficient livestock feed production has led to increased<br/>interest in insect farming, particularly the black soldier fly (BSF). However, little has been done<br/>to improve the quantity and quality of BSF products through selective breeding, despite the<br/>potential for significant impact due to the short generation interval and high reproduction rate<br/>of insects. The FlyGene project, supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims<br/>to address the challenges hampering implementation of selective breeding in BSF through<br/>research-led knowledge generation and capacity building. The project's objectives include<br/>identifying and prioritizing economically important BSF traits in smallholder and commercial<br/>production systems in Kenya and Uganda, developing innovative large-scale phenotyping<br/>systems using computer-vision approaches, and designing BSF breeding programs with a<br/>strategic emphasis on large-scale producers and smallholder farms. The project also aims<br/>to develop genomic tools for genetic marker-based monitoring of BSF genetic diversity and<br/>pedigree tracing. Significant progress has been achieved, including conducting large-scale<br/>surveys in Kenya and Uganda to characterize BSF production systems and identify trait<br/>preferences. It has also developed novel computer-vision-based approaches with promising<br/>results in phenotyping BSF for larval body traits and sex identification. Additionally, the project<br/>anticipates a whole-genome sequence-based study to unveil the genetic diversity of the BSF<br/>population in Kenya and Uganda, based on wild and captive BSF sampled from various regions<br/>in the two countries. Protocols have been developed for the pilot implementation of mass<br/>selection in private-sector partners. Furthermore, two national workshops were organized to<br/>bring together stakeholders across the BSF value chain in Kenya and Uganda, facilitating<br/>collaboration and knowledge sharing while ensuring the project's outcomes are relevant to the<br/>needs of stakeholders. To realize its far-reaching objectives of capacity building, the project<br/>has enrolled 4 PhD and 1 MSc students. With multi-disciplinary and multi-sector collaboration<br/>the FlyGene project exemplifies a strategic and impactful endeavor poised to revolutionize the<br/>landscape of insect rearing and sustainable feed production in Kenya and Uganda.