When she enrolled for a degree in Medicine, Starlin Farah never imagined she would venture outside the medical field to produce animal feed and organic fertiliser.
While looking for a way to make extra cash at university, Starlin met Adan Mohammed, a schoolmate, who needed help in creating a protein formula that could help to lower the cost of animal feed.
After research, the duo discovered that they could use insects such as the black soldier fly (BSF), which feeds on organic waste materials, to produce the protein formula.
The BSF stood out not only because it was economical to rear, but also because it could help to manage organic waste such as kitchen refuse and fruit waste.
"Getting to this level hasn’t been easy, especially as a woman — I’ve had to balance caring for my young children, running my business, and supporting my community."
In 2018, they incorporated a company—Ecodudu— and set up a manufacturing plant in Murang’a, where they would feed the BSF larvae on organic waste from fruit farms, food processing factories, coffee estates, and kitchen gardens.
Once they grow into mature pupa, the BSF is harvested for conversion into a protein product called dudu meal, which can be mixed with other nutrients to produce a balanced animal feed.
What remains of the waste that the BSF feeds on, a by-product called frass, is mixed with other materials to produce a fertiliser dubbed shamba mix.
The company sells the protein formula to animal feed manufacturers and the fertiliser to clients such as the fruit farms from where they source raw materials.
Starlin admits that getting to this level has not been easy, particularly as a woman, who has had to balance between taking care of her young children, managing the business and supporting the local community.
She acknowledges the role that having a male ally has played in amplifying her voice in an industry that is male-dominated and calls on more men to leverage their influence to advocate for change to promote diversity and inclusion.
-Albert Mwazighe