Amman: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) is spearheading efforts to convert organic waste into animal protein while tackling the red palm weevil, aiming to boost agricultural innovation and ensure food security through research. NARC Director General Ibrahim Rawashdeh announced these initiatives during a tour of the Deir Alla, Karameh, and Sharhabil Bin Hasnah research stations. The visit highlighted ongoing projects and findings from a study on transforming organic waste into protein using black soldier fly larvae.
According to Jordan News Agency, the project, in collaboration with the Regional Center on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development for the Near East (CARDNE) and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), explored various agricultural and food waste combinations as larval feedstock to assess their impact on larval growth and bioconversion efficiency. The study revealed that potato and tomato waste, date palm fronds, and banana leaves significantly enhanced larval growth and waste conversion, offering a sustainable source of animal protein and supporting organic waste management.
Rawashdeh pointed out that a fully equipped laboratory has been established for analyzing the larvae, along with a unit at the Deir Alla center dedicated to rearing and multiplying the black soldier fly. This includes preparing feeding materials and monitoring life cycles. He noted that blending agricultural waste with leftover food improves waste conversion into larval protein and fats. However, the residue from larvae contains organic matter and nitrogen, requiring aerobic fermentation before being used as fertilizer.
The black soldier fly, beneficial for waste conversion, neither stings nor harms humans and has a life span of about a month. In Jordan, it is documented under the name Jordanone in the NCBI database, with related research based on this local strain. Concurrently, Rawashdeh instructed research teams to intensify efforts to combat the red palm weevil, a growing threat to date palms, a strategic crop in Jordan and the region.
Moreover, he emphasized developing the cactus, citrus, and date palm collections by introducing high-value, market-driven date varieties like Sukkary, Mabroom, Sagai, Ajwa Al-Madina, and others. Rawashdeh stressed the importance of investing in scientific research to both produce and protect food, stating that transforming waste into protein and combating the red palm weevil align with the vision for a sustainable agricultural future.