Integrating insect frass biofertilisers into sustainable peri-urban agro-food systems
Abstract
The larvae of black soldier fly (BSF) have shown great promise in transforming organic wastes into a more valuable larval biomass. Importantly, after insects have been harvested the remaining by-product, comprised of the spent substrate and frass (insect faeces), has the potential to be used as a biofertiliser. Three field-scale experiments to investigate whether frass biofertilisers (made from either poultry waste, brewery waste or green market waste) could be successfully incorporated into current small-holder farming practices were undertaken in Ghana, West Africa. In general, BSF frass biofertilisers performed as well as the local practice of amending Zaï planting pits with chicken manure, or incorporating uniformly broadcast fertilisers. For short-cycle cash crops such as chilli pepper and shallots, brewery waste biofertilisers performed better than poultry waste biofertilisers, particularly when added in combination with inorganic NPK fertilisers. For maize, green market waste biofertiliser did not significantly improve yield at applications of either 5 or 10 t/ha, even when combined with inorganic fertilisers. However, frass biofertiliser amendment did significantly reduce the loss of cowpea plants due to Fusarium wilt disease. We hypothesise that the fragments of chitin (originating from 4-5 larval moults) in frass biofertilisers can induce disease resistance in crop plants grown in biofertiliser-amended soil. The benefit of frass as a by-product of insect larvae production can increase the profitability of this burgeoning industry in developing countries, and provide employment opportunities and self-sufficiency in the nutrient supply chain by integrating organic waste management and insect farming into peri-urban agro-food systems.
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The sustainable use of BSFL frass fertilizer can reduce the over-reliance on costly mineral fertilizers that have harmful effects on soil and environmental health.
“The sustainable use of BSFL frass fertilizer can reduce the over-reliance on costly mineral fertilizers that have harmful effects on the soil and environmental health [89].”
From A Review of Organic Waste Treatment Using Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) (2022) · cites this paper as [89]
858 kg of poultry manure produced 62.9% (540 kg) BSFL frass and 6.4% (54.9 kg) BSFL.
“Another study by Quilliam et al. [17] found that the bioconversion of brewery waste produced 33.8% (738 kg) BSFL frass and 2.5% (55.1 kg) BSFL from 2182 kg of the substrate, while 858 kg of poultry manure produced 62.9% (540 kg) BSFL frass and 6.4% (54.9 kg) BSFL.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
Bioconversion of 2182 kg brewery waste produced 33.8% (738 kg) BSFL frass and 2.5% (55.1 kg) BSFL.
“Another study by Quilliam et al. [17] found that the bioconversion of brewery waste produced 33.8% (738 kg) BSFL frass and 2.5% (55.1 kg) BSFL from 2182 kg of the substrate, while 858 kg of poultry manure produced 62.9% (540 kg) BSFL frass and 6.4% (54.9 kg) BSFL.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
Plots with addition of BSFL frass have significantly fewer dead plants than control plots with synthetic NPK fertilisers, where cowpea crop suffered severe Fusarium wilt outbreak.
“Quilliam et al. [17] also reported that the plots with the addition of BSFL frass have significantly fewer dead plants than the control plots with synthetic NPK fertilisers, where the cowpea crop has suffered severe Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) outbreak.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
BSFL frass as an organic fertiliser gives comparable results to organic fertiliser in chili pepper growth compared with standard local farmer practice using chicken manure fertiliser.
“According to Quilliam et al. [17], BSFL frass as an organic fertiliser has given comparable results as organic fertiliser in the growth of chili pepper compared with standard local farmer practice using chicken manure fertiliser.”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
BSFL frass may undergo further decomposition on a concrete floor under a roof for three weeks before using it as an organic fertilizer.
“BSFL frass may undergo further decomposition on a concrete floor under a roof for three weeks before using it as an organic fertilizer [17].”
From Potential Applications of Frass Derived from Black Soldier Fly Larvae Treatment of Food Waste: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [17]
Cites
El Hadrami, A., Adam, L. R., El Hadrami, I., & Daayf, F. (2010) · Marine Drugs · doi:10.3390/md8040968 · Cited by 783 · see citing works
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Klammsteiner, T., Turan, V., Fernández-Delgado Juárez, M., Oberegger, S., & Insam, H. (2020) · Agronomy · doi:10.3390/agronomy10101578 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
A Review of Organic Waste Treatment Using Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)
Amrul, N. F., Kabir Ahmad, I., Ahmad Basri, N. E., Suja, F., Abdul Jalil, N. A., & Azman, N. A. (2022) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su14084565 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
“The sustainable use of BSFL frass fertilizer can reduce the over-reliance on costly mineral fertilizers that have harmful effects on the soil and environmental health [89].”
BackgroundBasri, N. E. A., Azman, N. A., Ahmad, I. K., Suja, F., Jalil, N. A. A., & Amrul, N. F. (2022) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods11172664 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
“[17] found that the bioconversion of brewery waste produced 33.”
Background
- Authors
- Quilliam, R. S., Nuku-Adeku, C., Maquart, P., Little, D., Newton, R., & Murray, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Stirling (GB)
- Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, Ashaiman, Greater Accra, Ghana.
- Venue
- Journal of Insects as Food and Feed
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2020-06-09
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 315-322
- ISSN
- 2352-4588 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3002131971
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 12.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Insects as Food and Feed (publishedVersion)
- Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Utilization and Effects
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture, Plant Science, Crop Management
- Keywords
- Hermetia illucens, insect frass, biofertilizers, poultry waste, brewery waste, insect farming, peri-urban agriculture, smallholder farming, chili pepper, shallot, maize, cowpea, Fusarium wilt, chitin, induced disease resistance, organic waste management, Ghana
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