With a unique ability to process almost any type of organic matter that crosses its path, a small but powerful insect is emerging as a key tool in the fight against the growing problem of organic waste and soil degradation. This insect is the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), which transforms food scraps into a natural fertilizer rich in nutrients: excrement.
While insects have long been used in agriculture as a food source, now farmers are exploring the potential of their excrements as sustainable fertilizer. With over 33% of the world’s soil currently degraded, lacking the necessary nutrients for proper plant growth, insect excrements can play a crucial role in restoring biodiversity and soil quality.
In May 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted funding to three projects aiming to leverage the capabilities of this soldier fly. Among them, Chapul Farms, a company based in Oregon dedicated to insect reutilization in American agriculture to reduce food waste, restore soil health, and produce high-quality animal feed.
Supported by the Fertilizer Production and Expansion Program (FPEP), bipartisan support for using insects in agriculture underscores the growing recognition of the BSFL’s potential, both for waste reduction and soil health improvement through the production of high-quality domestic fertilizers.
![Fly larva, an ally for the environment. Photo: Wikipedia.](https://storage.googleapis.com/media-cloud-na/2025/02/larva-de-mosca-1-300x225.jpg)
From small insect to a great fertilizer
BSFL larvae have the ability to consume almost any type of organic waste, from food scraps to agricultural byproducts. Companies like Chapul Farms harness their voracious appetite to process large amounts of waste, with the larvae ingesting up to four times their own weight in organic matter every day. This process occurs in a fraction of the time required for traditional composting, which can take up to 10 months. The efficiency of the larvae allows for a rapid conversion of organic waste into nutrient-rich excrement.
“Furthermore, they can reproduce rapidly,” says Shankar Ganapathi Shanmugam, an associate research professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University. “And [BSFL] feeds on dead and decomposing matter, which means it can survive on waste.” Shanmugam leads research on using excrements as crop fertilizer, a field that, although researched in other parts of the world, is relatively new in the United States.
The sustainability of natural fertilizer is one of its benefits
In terms of sustainability, BSFL digestion processes can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making the development of more efficient processing methods more urgent. Although the United States National Organic Program has not yet included insects as acceptable additives, outfits like Chapul Farms are working with regulators to raise awareness and promote their inclusion in agricultural regulations.
Unlike chemical fertilizers, which often deplete the soil over time, insect excrements promote soil biodiversity, increasing its resilience, enhancing plants’ natural defense, favoring water retention, and reducing dependence on costly synthetic inputs. In contrast, synthetic fertilizers destroy soil biodiversity and require large amounts of fossil fuels, limiting the soil’s ability to sequester carbon.
![Black soldier fly larva excrement is considered a great natural fertilizer. Photo: HUJI.](https://storage.googleapis.com/media-cloud-na/2025/02/larva-de-mosca-3.jpg)
Its reach is expanding
“We have recently seen increased government momentum to fund projects supporting national fertilizer production,” says Aly Moore, communications director at Chapul Farms. “We are aware of the numerous health issues stemming from lower crop nutrient density and excessive pesticide use. Additionally, farmers will need fewer fertilizers and pesticides as they progress with insect excrement use.”
Although the insect agriculture industry still faces obstacles, excrement use remains an underutilized resource. The insect protein market is booming, but excrements have even greater potential to improve soil health and contribute to global food and agricultural security. Insects are not only essential for agriculture but also a key part of ecosystems. Without them, ecosystems could undergo significant changes or even collapse.
The importance of insects for the environment
Several studies claim that insects are fundamental for both the human population and ecosystems. According to experts, these animals aid in the decomposition of plant matter, pollination, contribute to human health, and serve as food for many species.
However, habitat loss, pesticide and fertilizer use, pollution, intensive agriculture conversion, urbanization, not to mention biological factors and climate change.
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