Black soldier fly

(BSF) raw chitin as

biofertilizer in
mushroom
farming
Presented
By
Roland Missengue
August 2022
 Background
• Chitin is a naturally occurring polymer that bonds with minerals and proteins to form a resistant
structure within insect cuticles, crustacean shells as well as the cell walls of fungi.

• Black soldier fly (BSF) products have between 8 and 24 % of chitin.

• Chitin has garnered significant attention due to its many functional properties and applications in
several industries including cosmetics, pharmaceutical, medical, biotechnology, food, water
treatment, and agriculture.

• In agriculture, chitin and its derivative chitosan are well known for their plant biostimulant
properties enhancing plants’ ability to use nutrients, reducing nutrient leaching, and stimulating
several defense responses in plants.

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 Background

• It was reported in an unpublished study that the

amendment of an agricultural soil with BSF raw
chitin (treatment) improved the growth and
health of maize.

Effect of amendment of soil with BSF raw chitin on the growth

of maize seedlings under glasshouse conditions

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 Aim and Research layout
• This document aims to present the effect of BSF raw Step 1
chitin on an edible mushroom yield and its techno- Preparation
economic analysis following the steps presented in of raw
the figure. chitin

• Step 1: Preparation of BSF raw chitin. Step 4

Step 2
Mushroom
Mushroom
market
trial
• Step 2: mushroom trial in Kenya. opportunities

• Step 3: Techno-economic analysis (Kenyan market) Step 3

Techno-
economic
analysis
• Step 4: Mushroom market opportunities

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 Results of the mushroom trial

Total Harvest (g)

25000,00 23421,00
• The addition of raw chitin
led to a percentage
20000,00
16025,75 increase of 46,15 %.
15000,00

10000,00 • OF = organic fertilizer

8100,24

5000,00

0,00
Substrate Substrate + OF Substrate + OF + BSF
raw chitin

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 Techno-economic analysis
• Gross margin for BSF raw chitin preparation in Kenya
Option A Option B • Option A of raw chitin
CAPEX $2 277.44 $2 277.44 preparation is favorable to a
OPEX $295.13/year $295.13/year mushroom farmer.
Production rate 41 975 Kg/year 41 975 Kg/year
BSF raw chitin price $0.32/Kg $1.375/Kg
• Option B of the raw chitin
Revenue $13 432/year $57 715.63/year
preparation is favorable to a BSF
Gross margin $13 136.87/year $57 420.50/year
farming company.

• Farmer’s profitability in Kenya

No addition of raw Plus the addition of raw chitin, Plus the addition of raw chitin,
chitin Option A Option B
Weight of mushrooms produced 1 1.46 1,46
(Kg)
Operating cost (USD) 3,39 3,70 4,71
Revenue (USD) 5,08 7,42 7,42
Profit (USD) 1,69 3,72 2,71

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 BSF raw chitin opportunities in the global
mushroom market
• The global mushroom market is projected • The drivers of the mushroom market
to reach a value of USD 91,99 Billion by 2027 growth are:
from 51,53 Billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 9,3 i) Shifts in consumer preferences toward
% from 2022 to 2027. vegan foods and increased demand for meat
replacements.
ii) Health (Especially since the COVID 19
pandemic started) and nutritional benefits.

• Mushrooms on the market are button

mushroom, shiitake mushroom, oyster
mushroom, and others. In 2021, the button
mushroom contributed over 61,8 % to the
global mushroom market in terms of
volume.
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 THANK YOU!

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