Karachi Students Win Award for Turning Food Waste Into Animal Feed

Three students from the University of Karachi have won the Texitech Best Pitch Award for presenting an innovative solution to address the city’s growing organic waste problem.

The award, established by Dr. Amtul and sponsored by Sohail-ur-Rahman, CEO of Texitech Pakistan, was presented to Wahid Ullah from the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), and Anabia Siddiqui and Sarah Zafar from the Department of Biotechnology.

According to a spokesperson for ICCBS, the students were recognized for their project to convert urban organic waste into valuable resources.

Speaking at the event, the students highlighted that Karachi produces more than 12,000 tons of solid waste every day. A significant portion of this waste consists of organic material, including leftover food from homes, markets, hotels, and restaurants. Most of it is dumped at overcrowded landfills such as Jam Chakro and Gond Pass.

At these sites, the waste decomposes in the open, creating foul odors, attracting pests, releasing harmful gases, and gradually damaging soil and groundwater.

The students emphasized that while Karachi’s waste crisis is serious, it does not require expensive or imported solutions. Instead, they said sustainable results can be achieved by working with natural processes. Converting food waste into animal feed and fertilizer is one practical step toward building a cleaner and healthier city.

“Our proposal outlines an eco-efficient method to convert urban organic waste into protein-rich animal feed, organic bio-fertilizer (frass), and valuable biochemical compounds using the nutrient-rich larvae of the Black Soldier Fly,” the students explained.

They noted that this technology is already being used in several countries across Asia and Africa. The process does not involve genetic modification and does not spread disease.

The larvae are rich in protein and can be used as animal and poultry feed, helping reduce reliance on expensive imported feed. The remaining material, known as frass, serves as a natural fertilizer that improves soil health.