The Black soldier fly, specifically its larva, are pretty amazing. They are capable of consuming pretty much any organic material and transform it into nutrient-rich fertilizer also known as frass.
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00:00This is a black soldier fly, and its larvae are pretty amazing.
00:07They're capable of consuming pretty much any organic material and can transform it
00:11into nutrient-rich fertilizer, also known as frass.
00:14But why is that important?
00:15Well, our planet is currently dealing with a soil crisis.
00:19According to the American Center for Nutrition, 33% of Earth's soil is considered degraded
00:23or derelict of the nutrients needed to grow plants.
00:26That's where these little bugs and their larvae come in.
00:28They're capable of consuming upwards of four times their body weight in organic material
00:33every day, leaving behind much-needed frass, producing it at a rate much faster than traditional
00:38composting.
00:39This byproduct is still in its infancy.
00:41However, experts say that the cost-benefits of switching from traditional fertilizers
00:44could be huge, as those exist within a volatile market.
00:48With Pat Crowley, CEO of Chapel Farms, one of the agricultural organizations studying
00:52the effectiveness of the insects, saying about it,
00:55Ultimately, at its core, we cannot survive without insects.
00:58Natural ecosystems cannot flourish without the insects as a part of them.