Could the waste from one of the world’s newest industries be the secret to a greener food system?
As the global population keeps growing, the industrial farming of insects for food and feed is becoming a much more efficient way to produce protein than traditional livestock. In these facilities, the waste produced by insects—known as frass—is a major byproduct, with volumes reaching up to 40 times the amount of actual animal weight produced. Because there is so much of it, using this waste as an organic fertilizer instead of synthetic chemicals is a practical way to move toward sustainable agriculture and a circular economy.
A full review of the research shows that using insect frass as a natural fertilizer offers several benefits: it adds vital nutrients like nitrogen that plants can easily take in, provides natural molecules and tiny organisms that help crops grow, and makes plants stronger against harsh weather, diseases, and pests. Ultimately, the waste from large-scale insect farming stands out as a reliable and effective source of organic fertilizer for the future of farming.
Learn more about the results of this review here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-020-00656-x
Reference
Poveda, J. (2021). Insect frass in the development of sustainable agriculture. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 41(1), 5.