Wageningen: A team of first-year students from the University of Ghana has made the nation proud by emerging among the top six winning teams at the 2025 Food Systems Innovation Challenge Nature-Based Solutions Edition. It was held at Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in the Netherlands.
According to Ghana News Agency, the competition, organized jointly by WUR and the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), brought together 24 student teams from 12 countries, each working on innovative, nature-based solutions to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.
Representing Ghana, the FlyCycle Team led by Mr. William Oduro, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student, presented a groundbreaking project exploring the use of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae as an alternative protein source for poultry and aquaculture feed. High feed cost remains a major constraint in Ghana’s poultry and fish industries, accounting for up to 70 percent of total production costs. FlyCycle’s innovation seeks to reduce these costs by introducing BSF larvae as a sustainable, nutrient-rich, and cost-effective feed alternative.
In addition to its feed benefits, the project promotes organic farming through the use of BSF frass, a byproduct of the larvae, as an organic fertilizer that enriches soil fertility and structure. Early trials with smallholder farmers have shown promising results, confirming the larvae’s effectiveness as a cheaper and protein-dense feed source.
For their outstanding innovation, FlyCycle was selected among the top six teams globally, receiving a £1,000 cash prize to scale their project. The team has also earned an exclusive invitation to represent Ghana at the upcoming World Food Forum in Rome, Italy, where they will showcase their solution on a global platform.
The FlyCycle team comprises six first-year students from the University of Ghana’s School of Agriculture, namely William Oduro, Samuel Ofori, Paul Ansah Asiedu, Perpetua Adofoli, Bright Matey Baah, and Pharida Adams Nashvel. They were guided by Dr. Benjamin Adjei of the Department of Animal Science, with Prof. Daniel Adu Ankrah serving as the national coordinator for the Challenge in Ghana. Prof. Eric Kwesi Nartey, Dean of the School of Agriculture, serves as a member of the Challenge’s Advisory Board.
The Food Systems Innovation Challenge 2025 focused on the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as actions that protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems while delivering social, economic, and environmental benefits. On the theme ‘Transforming Food Systems through Nature-based Innovation,’ the challenge engaged youth across 12 countries including Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil, Bangladesh, Uganda, Vietnam, and the Netherlands in developing practical solutions for resilient and sustainable food systems.
Participating teams were tasked with designing and implementing local projects aligned with their countries’ National Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems, focusing on climate change mitigation, biodiversity restoration, and improved livelihoods. The 2025 Challenge is supported by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the University Fund Wageningen, with the Global Network of Lighthouse Farms serving as a Knowledge Partner. The initiative emphasizes building stronger partnerships between universities in the Global South and leading research institutions to drive youth-led food systems transformation.
Speaking after the announcement, Mr. Oduro expressed gratitude to the organizers and mentors for their support: ‘Our vision is to help farmers lower production costs while promoting sustainable farming practices. We believe the Black Soldier Fly can help Ghana achieve food security through local innovation.’ The success of Team FlyCycle underscores Ghana’s growing leadership in youth-driven agricultural innovation and reaffirms the University of Ghana’s commitment to nurturing practical, research-based solutions that support national and global sustainability goals.