Using insects for sustainable waste management of superabundant animals.

Abstract

Management of fecal waste from superabundant wildlife in urban areas is a key environmental and public health concern, yet even in developed countries, sustainable solutions that implement circular economy principles are still lacking. We tested the potential of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for valorizing organic waste of the widespread Canada goose: converting droppings into larval protein while yielding frass fertilizer. Larvae were able to survive, develop, and degrade the goose feces. For instance, larvae degraded 56% of goose feces compared to 63% of a control diet. Sterilization of feces reduced the performance of larvae. We tested the fertilization properties of the insect frass on an aquatic plant (duckweed) and we found growth enhancement of 32% at 10 g{middle dot}L-1 compared to a standard Hoaglands media. Our results provide insights into how to sustainably manage urban fecal waste from overabundant species while producing protein and a nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants.