GrubCycle aims to convert organic waste into a value-added product using the Black Soldier Fly. At th

1. What challenge does address?
Our community partner, Carolina for Kibera (CFK), runs a program
called Taka ni Pato (Trash is Cash.) Local youth groups collect mixed
solid waste from households for a small fee per bag.
CFK then helps the youth to sort the waste and sell the plastic, paper,
glass and metal recyclables to brokers. Organics, which make up
over 70% of the total, are currently discarded.
mixed organic
> 70%
of total

2. Photo: http://media.disciplesupport.org
Inadequately managed
organic waste in the largest
African slum, Kibera in
Nairobi, contaminates water
supplies and attracts disease
vectors.
With no other options, Kibera
residents frequently burn
organic waste. The densely-
populated communities suffer
from serious air pollution.

3. farms
100 kg
Black Soldier Flies (BSF)*, which
convert organic waste to larval biomass.
organic The larvae can be used directly as animal
waste feed or processed into a high-value
protein meal.
*BSF are common in Kenya and do not transmit diseases because
the adults, having no mouth parts, do not feed.
45 kg 18 kg
larval protein
biomass meal
(about $30)
Photos (left to right): http://organicfarmcostarica.wordpress.com, Christian Grantham via Flickr, http://lptechnologies.net, http://davesgarden.com

4. So we designed &
prototyped our first System.
A commercial BSF-farming system with passive-automatic harvest mechanism,temperature
control & vertical modular design for optimal yield in tight urban spaces.
Local entrepreneurs will operate GrubCycle franchises using these systems. We will support
maintenance and business development, including sales of BSF to local farmers and animal
feed manufacturers.

5. [1] collection (CFK*)
[2] sorting (CFK*) [3] conversion
mixed organic
*Carolina for Kibera, our community partner.
[4] sales to farms &
feed manufacturers

6. Why does work?
Every part of the process generates income:
mixed organic
CFK youth charge Each GrubCycle Factories sell a
collection fees operator earns about competitive feed
and sell sorted $8 /day by selling product.
recyclables. mature BSF larvae.
High demand for feed
Avg wage (Kibera) is $1 /day
Opportunity to scale up
Kenya generates 1.2 million tons of organic waste each year. We can convert
this to a $350,000,000 market for larval protein meal, in Kenya alone.
GrubCycle turns every 1 kg of organic waste into 29 cents worth of
protein meal.