Noluthando Ngcobo, a research assistant at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), explains how a KwaNdaba farmer transforms food waste into feed, compost, and thriving crops through the Divagri project – proving how circular agriculture powers rural sustainability.
In KwaNdaba in the North of KwaZulu-Natal, a smallholder who is part of the Divagri (revenue DIVersification in Africa through bio-based and circular AGRIcultural innovations) project, redefines what it means to farm sustainably.
Through the innovative use of bio-based technologies, she has exceptionally demonstrated how waste can be turned into valuable agricultural resources while reducing environmental impact and increasing farm productivity.
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC), through the Divagri project, is implementing three technologies in KwaNdaba, and black soldier fly (BSF) forms one of the technologies being implemented.
Black soldier fly technology
The farmer manages the BSF larvae, a sustainable bio-technology that converts organic waste into high-protein animal feed and nutrient-rich compost. The larvae will be mixed with chicken feed and fed to poultry as part of this project.
The BSFs are fed organic waste, which includes leftover food, fruit skin, vegetable seeds and peels, etc, which is supplied by Tiger Lodge, a local hospitality establishment that collaborates with the project to minimise food waste.
Before feeding the waste to the BSFs, the farmer precisely separates non-biodegradable materials such as plastics, bottles, etc, to ensure that only organic matter is used. The sorting and recycling process has proven to be not only environmentally beneficial but also surprisingly rewarding.
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Butternut blooms from waste
While sorting the waste, she discovered butternut seeds that had been discarded along with kitchen scraps. Instead of throwing them away, she decided to plant the seeds, and they germinated and flourished in her field.
Months later, her dedication and innovation paid off. She harvested healthy butternuts, grown entirely from waste-derived seeds. The harvest stands as a powerful symbol of circular bioeconomy in action, demonstrating how waste streams can create value chains that benefit both farmers and the environment.
This embodies the spirit of the Divagri project, which seeks to empower rural farmers through sustainable technologies that enhance livelihoods, reduce waste, and promote ecological balance.
By combining traditional knowledge with modern bio-based practices, this farmer has shown that waste is not the end of a product’s life cycle but the beginning of another. Her success not only highlights the potential of bio-based innovation but also encourages other smallholder farmers to explore creative ways to turn waste into opportunity.
Through initiatives like Divagri, communities across Southern Africa are taking meaningful steps towards a more resilient and circular agricultural future.
- Noluthando Ngcobo is a research assistant at the Agricultural Research Council. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
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