Rendria Transforming Organic Waste into Animal Feed
The waste problem in the world is very worrying. If not handled now, then the impact will be felt by the next generation. Seeing this, a young man named Rendria Labde took part in overcoming the waste problem. The method is also unique, namely using fly larvae.
He sees that the waste problem in Indonesia cannot be ignored, especially organic waste. According to him, there have been many businesses dealing with plastic waste, but not organic waste. Therefore, Rendria founded Magalarva.
Magalarva is a larval cultivation business of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) or black soldier fly. BSF is a ferocious fly that eats all organic waste. The flies are then bred to produce larvae which are cultivated to become raw material for animal feed.
After going through various researches, Rendria and a colleague saw that organic waste was the most generated waste. In fact, 70 percent of waste in Indonesia is organic waste that ends up in landfills. If it is allowed to continue to pile up in the landfill, it will become a very serious problem. Especially if it pollutes the environment.
Departing from there, Rendria founded Magalarva as a solution for abundant organic waste. The business was founded in 2017, and has processed organic waste from food factories, traditional and modern markets, hotels and plantations into derivative products such as animal feed, insect oil and others.
The choice of BSF is because BSF is the fastest destroyer of organic waste because it is aggressive. What's more, the larvae of BSF are very rich in nutrients such as essential protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which can be an alternative to overcome protein scarcity.
If many people are disgusted by flies, Rendria is not. He sees these insects as a solution to the accumulation of waste in landfills.
“I am very interested in the idea that something that people see as useless can actually be used as something very useful. I think that's something that ignites enthusiasm, "said Rendria.
The business he started is eyed by various groups because it is considered an interesting and sustainable innovation. One of the prestigious awards that Rendria received was the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2021 in the Industry, Manufacturing & Energy category.
On the Forbes page, it was also explained that Magalarva received USD 500,000 or around IDR 7 billion in initial funding from an unspecified investor. Magalarva also participates in Scale, an accelerator program initiated by Indonesian conglomerate Salim Group and Japan's Gree Ventures.
Prior to running Magalarva, he was a real estate businessman. He is a graduate of mechanical engineering at the University of Indonesia which has absolutely nothing to do with insect farming, or waste and the environment.
His journey to Magalarva was initiated from the desire to find identity and finally meet sustainable agriculture. Increasingly literate about the environment, he wanted to create a solution to the waste problem, namely with Magalarva.
Writer:Rahma K