Excretions from insects like the black soldier fly may promote plant growth when mixed into soil. Photo: © Sander Freitas / Shutterstock.com

Insect poop can be used as a fertilizer

Insect frass is simply the faeces of insects. Researchers have concluded that the frass is rich in nitrogen as well as other nutrients that can improve soil quality and plant growth. In addition to the nutrients, the insects’ faeces also contain microbes that can contribute to biocontrol of plant pests and diseases.

Because industrial production of insects intended for food and feed is growing, there will also be a growing stream of by-products. The researchers hope that the application of these residual streams as soil amendments can further contribute to a sustainable and circular agriculture.

Source: Trends in plant Science 2 March 2022, https://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/fulltext/S1360-1385(22)00007-3

Agriculture

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Main menu

Insect poop can be used as a fertilizer

In this issue

A just transition in EU farming

Editorial: Peace a prerequisite for a sustainable Europe

Dirty air harms birds and bees

EU innovation fund: Most of it goes to CCS

Case study: Stockholm BECCS

Solar parks can benefit bumble bees

Fossil fuels behind a quarter of PM deaths

Farm emissions high on Air Convention agenda

EU paves the way for carbon farming credits

IEA "net zero" scenario shows little faith in renewables

CCS projects around the world

Wind and solar power cheapest energy

EU renewable heating manifesto: “We need to heat our homes, not the planet”

New parliamentary vote to ramp up offshore wind production in EU

Green certificates a Swedish success

A saltier world is to be expected

In Breif

Germany’s GHG emissions increased by nearly 5% in 2021

Delay in Euro 7

Honeycomb-shaped floating wind farm may be cheaper to operate

Changing Ocean Asia documentary

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Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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