Nakuru, Kenya| Israel has reiterated its unwavering commitment to partnering with Kenya in transferring advanced agricultural technologies aimed at boosting food production, slashing farm costs, and combating the growing threats of climate change.
This was announced by the Israeli Ambassador to Kenya, Gideon Behar, during a landmark visit to a state-of-the-art training facility in Nakuru County.
The ambassador’s remarks came during a tour of an innovative agricultural demonstration and training center established by the Nakuru County Government in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders-Israel (EWB-I).
The facility is pioneering the use of alternative, locally sourced, high-protein animal feeds – including Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, Duckweed, Azolla, and Spirulina – as practical, affordable, and environmentally friendly solutions for Kenyan farmers.
A Game-Changing Approach to Skyrocketing Feed Costs
In Kenya, animal feed accounts for 60–70% of total livestock and aquaculture production costs, making it the single largest expense for farmers.
Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services, Mr Leonard Bor, described the shift to locally produced alternative feeds as “a potential game-changer” that could dramatically improve household incomes for thousands of farming families.
“Once farmers embrace these locally available resources and process them into quality feeds, we will see a revolutionary drop in production costs and a corresponding rise in profitability and food security,” Bor stated.
Turning Waste into Wealth: The Black Soldier Fly Revolution
At the heart of the project is the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae program, which transforms organic waste into two valuable products: high-protein animal feed and frass – a nutrient-rich natural fertilizer.
“BSF larvae consume enormous quantities of organic matter and convert it into protein-rich biomass within days,” explained EWB-I representative Ms Hashimhony.
“This process not only produces superior livestock and fish feed but also diverts massive amounts of waste from landfills, preventing the release of methane – a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period.”
The dual benefit of waste management and feed production positions BSF technology as one of the most promising circular-economy solutions in modern African agriculture.
Supercharging Nutrition with Duckweed, Azolla and Spirulina
The Nakuru facility is training farmers to cultivate three remarkable aquatic protein sources that grow rapidly with minimal inputs.
Duckweed, often described as the world’s fastest-growing plant, can double its biomass every 48 hours and contains up to 45% protein, making it an outstanding feed for poultry, fish, and livestock.
Azolla, a tiny floating fern that naturally fixes atmospheric nitrogen, delivers up to 40% protein while simultaneously reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers when used in rice paddies or as an organic soil enhancer.
Spirulina, the nutrient-dense blue-green algae containing up to 70% complete protein along with a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, is already being incorporated into early childhood development feeding programs across the county to fight stunting and malnutrition.
County Aquaculture Officer Mr John Bett emphasized that these alternatives are cheaper, more digestible, and often nutritionally superior to conventional commercial feeds, leading to healthier animals, higher productivity, and lower veterinary expenses.
Empowering Women and Youth through Inclusive Training
A deliberate focus of the Israel–Kenya partnership is socioeconomic inclusion. The training programs prioritize women’s groups and youth cooperatives, equipping them with practical skills in insect rearing, aquatic plant cultivation, feed formulation, and market linkage.
“By placing modern yet appropriate technology in the hands of young people and women, we are building resilient communities and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the agricultural value chain,” said EWB-I Project Manager Mr Mika Mitoto.
Precision Farming, AI and Climate Resilience at the Core
Ambassador Gideon Behar stressed that Israel’s support extends beyond alternative feeds to broader climate-smart and precision agriculture solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, drip irrigation, and protected cultivation systems that have turned Israel – a country with limited arable land and water – into a global agricultural powerhouse.
“Kenya and Israel share a common vision: to feed growing populations sustainably in the face of climate change. Israel is ready to share its decades of innovation so that Kenyan farmers can produce more with less water, less waste, and greater resilience,” the ambassador declared.
A Model for Nationwide and Continental Scale-Up
Nakuru County officials and EWB-I representatives expressed confidence that the facility will serve as a blueprint for replication across Kenya’s 47 counties and potentially throughout East Africa.
Plans are already underway to establish satellite training hubs and to integrate the alternative-feed curriculum into vocational colleges and university extension services.
As climate change intensifies droughts and disrupts traditional feed supply chains, initiatives that combine technological innovation with local resources offer a lifeline for millions of smallholder farmers.
With Israel’s continued technical assistance and Kenya’s political will, the partnership is poised to deliver lasting improvements in food security, environmental sustainability, and rural livelihoods for generations to come.
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