Farmers’ Priorities for BSF Traits: Insights from Uganda
Introduction
Breeding programs for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) are still in their early stages compared to conventional livestock. A recent study led by Hulunim G. Tariku (Visiting PhD student at Aarhus University) sheds light on which biological traits matter most to small-scale BSF producers in Uganda.
What Farmers Value Most
The study surveyed 212 respondents using a discrete choice experiment. Farmers consistently prioritized:
- High protein content
- Tolerance to environmental fluctuations
- Efficiency in composting organic waste
- Shorter harvesting time
One Surprising Finding
Unlike many agricultural sectors where location and goals shape preferences, in this study farmer priorities did not vary by socio-demographic groups or production goal. This suggests that a single breeding program could potentially serve diverse farmer groups.
Why This Matters for Industry
Aligning breeding programs with farmer priorities means innovations can have direct, practical impact on real-world production systems.
The Next Step
Hulunim highlights that on-farm performance trials will be key to validating and strengthening preference-based breeding goals.
Contact & Further Info
This work was conducted by Hulunim G. Tariku, Visiting PhD student at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University.
If you’d like to connect or learn more about his research, you can reach him via:
- LinkedIn: Hulunim G. Tariku
- Email: hulunim@gmail.com
Full Poster
Readers can explore the detailed study by accessing the poster here.