Research project: Development of insect-based compost for sustainable soil health management using by-products from insect mass rearing for food and feed.

Research goals: Convert waste from insect rearing into mature, stable and nutrient rich compost that can be used to improve soil fertility and consequently crop production. The study will also contribute to strategies for improving organic resources management like eliminating harmful organisms and smell, and reducing bulkiness so as to encourage their wider acceptability in crop production.

Host project and funding: Insect feed for poultry and fish production in sub Saharan Africa (INSFEED) project (phase 2), funded through the Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF) initiative, by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Bio: Dennis holds a BSc in Agricultural Land Use and Management and an MSc in Soil Science all from Makerere University, Uganda. He is a member of the Makerere University Land Managers Association and served as advisor of the association from 2010 to 2012.

Supervisors: Dr Komi Fiaboe, Dr Sunday Ekesi, Dr Fathiya Khamis, Dr Martha Musyoka, Dr Chrysantus Tanga and Prof. Baldwyn Torto (icipe).