Linear and extractive food systems exert immense pressures on land and biodiversity, resulting in 13 billion tons of food waste annually. As most of this waste ends up in landfills, the food chain has become a significant contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Circular economies powered by insect protein can address the need for a more resilient and sustainable food system.
Nambu
The company
Nambu is an insect protein company based in South Africa that uses Black Soldier Fly farming to efficiently process organic waste into high-value feed for poultry, pork, and aquaculture. Their operations enable recycling of food waste that would otherwise be sent to a landfill, while supplying local and emerging farmers with affordable, high-value, feed-grade protein. Nambu utilizes a localized model to ensure feed inputs travel fewer miles from point of production to consumption
The investment
A $450,000 loan will enable Nambu to cover the costs of the equipment for their new large commercial facilities in East London, Port Elizabeth, and George.
The impact
Nambu’s expansion plans will support and enable more resilient and sustainable local food production systems by allowing the company to divert an approximate 12,000t of waste from landfill each year, and an associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The new facilities will create 30 to 50 additional jobs, and give access to cheap, high-quality feed for local protein farmers, which could result in reducing their feed costs by c. 20%.