Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is testing an innovative waste management technology that uses Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae to transform organic waste into high-protein animal feed and organic fertiliser. The trials offer what scientists believe could become a practical solution to the country’s growing urban waste crisis while creating new economic opportunities. The pilot project, launched recently in Babati, Manyara Region, by the National Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), seeks to demonstrate how organic waste can be diverted from landfills and converted into valuable commercial products. Although the trial is being conducted in Babati, experts say its greatest potential lies in rapidly expanding cities such as Dar es Salaam, where municipal authorities face mounting challenges in managing ever-growing volumes of waste. As Tanzania’s urban population continues to increase, waste generation has risen sharply. Dar es Salaam alone produces an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of solid waste every day, according to figures from the city council and urban development studies. Between 55 and 65 percent of that waste consists of biodegradable material from households, food markets, hotels and restaurants. Much of this organic waste ends up at disposal sites such as Pugu Kinyamwezi or is dumped into drains, rivers and open spaces. Besides creating unpleasant odours, it contributes to blocked drainage systems, flooding during the rainy season, greenhouse gas emissions and growing public health concerns. Scientists say Black Soldier Fly technology directly addresses this waste stream by using larvae that rapidly consume decomposing organic material. Within a matter of days, the larvae can reduce the volume of waste by as much as 70 percent while producing commercially valuable by-products. Unlike common houseflies, adult Black Soldier Flies do not feed on human food and are not regarded as vectors of disease. Their larvae, however, consume large quantities of organic waste