Former Cuban Doctor Breeds Black Soldier Flies for High-Protein Fish Feed

From Medicine to Insect Farming

• 👨‍⚕️ Yodermus Diaz Hernandez, a former Cuban doctor, has transitioned to raising black soldier flies in Havana.
• 💰 He finds that this insect farming business is more financially rewarding than his previous medical career.

The Benefits of Black Soldier Flies

• 🐛 The larvae of black soldier flies are high-protein maggots that consume biological waste.
• ♻️ They can be processed into animal feed and pet food, offering a sustainable alternative.
• 💡 Beyond feed, they are also recognized for biological control, particularly in managing solid waste.
• 📉 Diaz notes the low production cost and minimal waste generated by this process.

Global and Cuban Context

• 🌍 Black soldier fly farming has seen significant investment in Europe and other regions over the last decade.
• 🇨🇺 In Cuba, this industry is in its early stages, but Diaz sees potential for a million-dollar global industry.
• 📈 While South America, Central America, and Eurasia have established industries, Cuba is just beginning.

Impact of Sanctions and Pandemic

• 📉 New US sanctions in 2019 and the subsequent pandemic severely impacted Cuba's economy, leading to a shortage of imported feed for livestock.
• 🇨🇺 The Cuban government is promoting fly farming to address the dramatic drop in imported feed.

Diaz's Business Growth

• 🐟 Last year, Diaz sold approximately 660 lbs of larvae to Cuban freshwater fish farms.
• 🚀 He aims to significantly increase sales to over 2,000 pounds this year.
• 🏘️ A handful of individuals in Cuba have started similar small enterprises.