Through the Mandai Research Fund, Republic Polytechnic has collaborated with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), to determine the efficiency, conversion and growth rate of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) fed with carnivore dung in comparison with those reared on herbivorous and animal food waste.
Spanning a year (from 2019 to 2020), RP students are also working to determine the nutrient content, suitability and versatility of using the BSFL as a source of animal feed for a variety of species such as fish, birds and reptiles.
In better understanding the different potentials of BSFL, a sustainable and closed loop waste management system solution is being explored and looked into, to help manage a portion of waste at WRS and the new parks at Mandai.
Being a testbed, and one of the first initiatives in which BSFL is used to manage carnivore dung, this project has also garnered substantial interest in local media. Preliminary research outcomes — including faster growth rates of the BSFL on carnivore dung — have been widely reported in local news.