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STORY: IFAD / BENIN FLIES PROJECT
TRT: 04:27
SOURCE: IFAD
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 9-10 JULY 2025, TORI, BENIN / 28 AUGUST 2025, ROME, ITALY
9-10 JULY 2025, TORI, BENIN
1. Various shots, hands holding larvae, pot, wheelbarrow depositing larvae compost pile on floor, compost mixed with soil, people pouring compost mix into bag, hand zipping compost bag, compost bags positioned on van
2. Various shots, green house plants, bell peppers in hay hat, larvae deposit, Noël scattering larvae
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Noël Obognon, CEO, Agro-Eco Services:
“These small larvae, wanting to feed and eat, will start decomposing (the soil), they will eat everything.”
4. Various shots, field, greenhouse, water drop irrigation system, men planting crops in greenhouse, man planting small crop
28 AUGUST 2025, ROME, ITALY
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Assocle Mahoussi Simon, Biodiversity and Climate Specialist, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):
“Erosion and low levels of organic matter in soils are one of the reasons for low agricultural productivity and therefore poverty among farmers. in addition, the effects of climate change, such as prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall during agricultural seasons, further complicate the situation.”
9-10 JULY 2025, TORI, BENIN
6. Various shots, Tchaba working, Tchaba's hand
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Tchaba, vegtable farmer:
“Before, with one tomato plant, my yield was about one, one and a half kilos. now with the agro-éco services compost, it is around 4 or even 5 kilos.”
8. Various shots, black soldier fly, Noël working, Noël inspecting black soldier fly
28 AUGUST 2025, ROME, ITALY
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Assocle Mahoussi Simon, Biodiversity and Climate Specialist, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):
“The solution developed by Noël is very interesting because it sustainably improves soils and allows farmers to increase their yields, while reducing their dependence on chemical inputs and strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems to climate hazards. it is an innovative, low-cost, low-energy solution that promotes the agroecological transition of farmers and directly contributes to food sovereignty.”
9-10 JULY 2025, TORI, BENIN
9. Various shots, people working inside larvae deposit, man mixing larvae feed, Noël and two men inspecting larvae
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Noël Obognon, CEO, Agro-Eco Services:
“We’ve grown from five to fifteen permanent staff members producing fertilizer on-site, plus thirty occasional workers.”
11. Various shots, small crop, field, green house
Deforestation and climate change have made it increasingly difficult for small-scale farmers to grow food. One project in Southern Benin believes that insects could be the answer to some of the environmental challenges they face.
As African leaders meet in Dakar, Senegal this week, one topic high on the agenda will be how to feed the continent's growing population.
Today Africa is home to 1.5 billion people, but that figure is predicted to double by 2070.
Up to 65 percent of land on the continent is degraded.
Deforestation and climate change have made it increasingly difficult for small-scale farmers to grow food.
One project in Southern Benin believes that insects could be the answer to some of the environmental challenges they face.
Don’t trust their small size: these larvae from the black soldier fly have a voracious appetite, especially when it comes to organic waste.
In Tori Benin, Young agronomist Noel Obognon is working with these small creatures to produce organic fertilizer and lots of it.
He said, “these small larvae, wanting to feed and eat, will start decomposing (the soil), they will eat everything.”
Soil normally takes six months to decompose, but using the larvae fly cuts the process to just 12 days.
Then, the larvae are extracted from the compost, and their dejections are mixed with biochar - a charcoal powder made from agricultural waste. Together, they produce a rich, natural fertilizer – able to enrich the soil with precious nutriments.
Accelerating the decomposition process allows Noel and his team to produce 10 times as much natural compost compared to normal processing, all this without harming the environment.
In Benin, more than a third of the land is degraded – a challenge for farmers and for the country in general, where agriculture generates 70 percent of the jobs.
Mahoussi Simone Assocle, IFAD’s climate-biodiversity specialist, said, “erosion and low levels of organic matter in soils are one of the reasons for low agricultural productivity and therefore poverty among farmers. in addition, the effects of climate change, such as prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall during agricultural seasons, further complicate the situation.”
Since launching back in 2019, Noel’s company, Agro-Eco Services, has received support from the PADMAR project, co-financed by IFAD, the Government of Norway and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
The company has received loans to buy equipment and help to secure long term land tenure for the business. The project aims to boost the incomes of vegetables producers and strengthen their resilience to the effects of climate change.
Tchaba, vegetable farmer and one of Noels local customers can confirm the benefits.
He said, “before, with one tomato plant, my yield was about one, one and a half kilos. now with the agro-éco services compost, it is around 4 or even 5 kilos.”
Noël’s company does not just have local customers, he has been so successful that is has now expanded its reach to over 2,500 clients across Benin, Chad, Cote D'Ivoire Burkina-Faso, and Niger.
Mahoussi Simone Assocle said, “the solution developed by Noël is very interesting because it sustainably improves soils and allows farmers to increase their yields, while reducing their dependence on chemical inputs and strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems to climate hazards. it is an innovative, low-cost, low-energy solution that promotes the agroecological transition of farmers and directly contributes to food sovereignty.”
Beyond these environmental benefits, Noel’s company is also creating jobs, while remaining committed to training and education.
Farmers like Noel are promoting Agro-ecological solutions that are well-adapted to local contexts.
This is a great example of how IFAD is investing in the climate resilience of small-scale farmers- for the benefit of their community, and the planet.
