United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, through the Green Innovation Challenge led by HackaDev, is supporting Eden Groups Eco Farms (Pvt) Ltd, a startup founded by two brothers, in transforming Sri Lanka’s poultry feed sector. The company aims to address shortages in raw materials by utilizing nutrition-rich larvae from Black Soldier Flies (BSF) and alternative animal feed technologies. The initiative is further supported by Curve Up (Pvt) Ltd, an incubation partner specializing in ed-tech and community empowerment.

Traditionally, poultry feed is made from a mix of grains, proteins, and other nutrients. However, shortages in these resources have made it hard for poultry farms in Sri Lanka to meet their needs. To address this, the founders of Eden Groups Eco Farms (Pvt) Ltd plan to use alternative feed sources, such as high-protein powder from Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, which are a more sustainable and cost-effective protein source for poultry.

After the program began, Curve Up hosted an introductory session on the HackaDev program and organized workshops and one-on-one coaching for the participants. Eden Groups used this new information to start their work.

In the initial phase, the team participated in workshops on legal matters, company registration, and other areas like marketing, finance, branding, public relations, and sustainable packaging. They studied the market, analyzed their product, and looked into production processes, including feed conversion and the use of dried live feed.

They also researched how to efficiently convert waste raw materials with larvae and the optimal amount of BSF needed for larval growth. They analyzed the data and created a report with key findings and insights. Prof. Chaminda Walpita from Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka provided expertise on BSF live feed, dried feed, and frass as fertilizer.

The team created an infrastructure plan for their production unit. With help from industry experts Mahendra Peris and Prof. Walpita, they successfully obtained larvae and eggs. They set up a BSF love-cage system to efficiently collect eggs and support larval development. This system included a breeding cage, a feeding shelter, and a storage room.

They built a cement tank, instead of using barrels, as a larvae feeding shelter. They added food waste or organic matter, such as kitchen scraps or agricultural byproducts, to keep a steady food supply for the larvae. After placing the BSF eggs in the system, the team monitored the larvae’s development.

They also invested in machinery and equipment for production, including a crushing machine, drying equipment, and an electric scale for accurate measurements. To ensure safety, they provided PPE like gloves, masks, and goggles for handling larvae, waste, and other materials.