Globally, issues surrounding population growth rapid urbanization, climate change, pressure on land as well as persistent poverty, have created uncertainties and pressures on current food and economic systems. The Insects for Food and Feed (INSEFF) project initiative aims to exploit the use of insects as alternative sources of food for human consumption and feed for livestock. The project has captured the imagination of the global research and donors as well as the general public. This is because insects are ubiquitous: they reproduce quickly, have high growth and feed conversion rates, and low environmental impact. Insects are also valuable sources of minerals and vitamins essential for human development.

Mission & Vision

The goal of the project is to contribute to improving food and feed security and economic wellbeing of smallholder producers while enhancing the quality of the environment through insect-based technologies and innovations in a sustainable manner for nutritional and food security

Objectives of the project

•  Develop and disseminate insect-based technologies for food, feed and other uses
• Promote the processing and marketing of insect-based products for food, feed and other uses to increase income along the value chain
• Contribute to the development of an enabling policy environment for insect-based food and feed products
• Support and strengthen national and regional capacity for insects for food and feed R&D through close partnership with relevant authorities and the private sector
• Promote and support information exchange and networking among partners involved in insects for food and feed R&D
• Generate knowledge-based evidence that can contribute to policy formulation.

What we do

• Capacity building
• The research and development continuum
• Resource mobilization
• Gender mainstreaming
• Insects for food and feed and climate change

Work packages

Within the proposed strategy, the Programme’s R4D agenda is developed based on identified and prioritized Work Packages (WP). Work packages are identified as broad problem domains of significant socio-economic impact within the Programme whose resolution or mitigation could meaningfully impact on the livelihood of beneficiaries and contribute to the achievement of the objectives.

• Inventory, socio-economics and market analysis
• Mass rearing and harvesting technology
• Technological up-scaling
• Nutritional composition and analysis
• Disease risk and food safety
• Organic waste conversion
• Processing, storage and packaging
• Legislation and regulatory measures

Our team

The icipe INSEFF team consists of individuals with varied skills and diverse backgrounds from technical experts to skilled problem solvers.
Profiles-photos, names &emails

Our approach

Although a holistic approach involving the use of multi-disciplinary measures is proposed for implementation of activities, each WP will have its R4D agenda encompassing all relevant partners aimed at efficiency in the attainment of respective results and objectives of the Programme.

• Research-development continuum:

Research is core to what we do. We have well-equipped Animal Rearing and Quarantine laboratories in our facilities in our Duduville campus, Nairobi.
Successful technologies progress along the continuum from conception to full-scale commercialization and utilization. INSEFF’s R4D continuum will follow the progression of technology development from idea, diagnosis and characterization through diffusion in the marketplace. Partnerships will be needed at various stages that may provide funding for verification, regulatory or market advice, a venue for demonstration, or an opportunity for scaling-up a technology which is inbuilt into the strategy;

• Effective and broad-based partnerships:

High-level shared principles for increasing development effectiveness will ensure that all activities are carried out in partnership with NARS, the private sector, producers and end-users. It is particularly noted that the role of the private sector will be pivotal in accelerating the development impact of the Programme in light of achieving the outlined objectives.

• Team-based operations: Efforts to create synergies between WPs, partners and the private sector for more effective and sustainable impact must be fostered. Leadership for each WP will be based on comparative advantage.

Our Projects (GREEiNSECT, ILIPA, EntoNutri, INSFEED I&II, Rockefeller, Healthynsect etc…)

icipe has several technologies, one of which is using insect technology by using black soldier larvae to upcycle organic waste into premium and sustainable protein for animal feed.

Icipe products offer a sustainable, high-quality, natural alternative to fishmeal and vegetable oils.

1. DuduMeal
   Dudu Meal is a sustainable, high-quality animal protein derived from back soldier fly larvae that can be fed to all monogastric animals including fish, chickens and pets.
   Photo of Meal
2. DuduOil
   DuduOil is a versatile, natural oil that is extracted from our larvae with a high concentration of lauric acid. It is suitable for use in aquaculture feed, pet food and as a replacement for less sustainable oils such as fish oil, coconut and palm oil.​_
   Photo of oil
3. Chitin powder
4. Dudusoil
   DuduSoil is the larval residue or compost that is left over at the end of our process. High in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), it is a valuable, organic soil conditioner.
   Photo of organic fertilizer
5. Cookies, biscuits- These are derived from crickets
6. Bread/porridge