Substrate Telemetry and Thermal-Stress Mitigation
Developing offline-first substrate probes designed to send SMS alerts when bed temperatures exceed critical thresholds.
Research question
Intensive larval rearing generates concentrated metabolic heat. When dense substrate beds exceed critical temperature thresholds, large numbers of larvae can die unmonitored.
[PLACEHOLDER — CONFIRM WITH CLIENT: formal research question and primary outcome]
Method
We are developing ruggedised, offline-first substrate probes for tropical farm conditions. Operating over low-bandwidth 2G networks, the system will send automated SMS alerts to facility operators so they can adjust aeration and ventilation.
Planned activities: deploy offline SMS temperature sensors; onboard pilot facilities with a baseline period; count mortality using a standard protocol.
Temperature thresholds are provisional until confirmed against the published literature.
If baseline thermal-stress mortality proves negligible, the programme shifts emphasis to the slaughter assays and standardisation work.
Data from the pilot is intended to inform practical, evidence-based guidance for Kenya’s national code of practice for Black Soldier Fly farming.
Protocols and statistical analysis plans will be published before data collection begins.
Planned outputs
- An alert system
- A micro-climate dataset
- Published protocols