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Fly farm's hungry maggots are fertiliser producers and food rolled into one

With help from the humble black soldier fly, S'pore's first insect farm can turn tonnes of food waste into fertiliser

From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Mr Darren Ho (left) and Mr Ng Jia Quan started Singapore’s first insect farm, Insectta, last year. They had met during reservist training and found they shared a common interest in farming. Mr Ho studied natural resource management and economics in university and was keen to explore how nature and man can co-exist in a more sustainable manner. Mr Ng used to work as a chef in the fine dining sector, where he noticed a lot of food being wasted at restaurants as chefs would often use only the best cuts of meat or fish and discard the rest. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is feasible in land-scarce Singapore. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Trapping and harvesting: A simple trap made out of a plastic takeaway box, pieces of cardboard tied together with rubber bands, and some black soldier fly waste. These traps are placed in forested areas for three to four days to attract flies to lay their eggs. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Trapping and harvesting: The flies will lay their eggs between the pieces of cardboard. One female fly can lay between 500 and 1,000 eggs. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Trapping and harvesting: The harvested eggs are placed in a sink strainer over a tray of food waste. The strainer prevents moisture as the eggs could die if conditions are too wet. It also keeps the eggs suspended because in nature, the flies do not lay their eggs directly on food waste. Soya bean pulp, known as okara, is used as food waste as it is nutritious and easy to handle. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Trapping and harvesting: After hatching, the larvae feed on soya bean pulp. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Trapping and harvesting: For two weeks, the larvae will feast non-stop, eating food waste comprising fruits, fish and meat. The larvae act as a decomposer, breaking down food waste and returning it as compost for farming. A single larva can eat almost four times its weight a day. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Trapping and harvesting: It takes two weeks for the white larvae to turn into black pupae. After another two weeks, the pupae will turn into adult flies, which live up to a week. The flies’ short life cycle make them suitable for breeding. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
Mr Ng feeding the larvae to chickens at Citizen Farm, on whose grounds Insectta is situated. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
From far left: When the flies die, their carcasses are used as compost at Citizen Farm. Insectta is situated in Margaret Drive, near housing estates. The farm does not emit pungent smells commonly associated with farms, which shows urban farming is f
A dish of pasta with black soldier fly larvae, cooked by Mr Ng, pictured next to a bowl of live insect larvae. Insectta is working with Nanyang Polytechnic on food safety and product development for human consumption. The larvae are washed, then blanched or steamed to pasteurise them. They are then dried in an oven and turned into powder to be used in food products such as bread, pasta and cookies. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Kelvin Chng Photojournalist
Updated
Published
April 2, 2018 at 5:00 AM
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There is actually a lot more buzz in this modest sheltered spot in a quiet corner of Margaret Drive than first meets the eye.

The area - around the size of a badminton court - houses rows of trays bearing what looks like mealworms to be used as food at a giant pet shop. Insects resembling houseflies swarm around in a small chamber with a protective netting.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 02, 2018, with the headline Fly farm's hungry maggots are fertiliser producers and food rolled into one. Subscribe

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MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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