We Should Be Eating More Insects and Using Their Waste to Grow Crops, Says Plant Ecologist
Published:09 Mar.2022 Source:Cell Press
Marcel Dicke already knew that insects are an excellent source of protein for humans, but he didn't expect to learn that they have such a positive impact on plants. In an Opinion paper published on March 2 in the journal Trends in Plant Science, Dicke, a researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and colleagues discuss the benefits of using the waste from insect-as-food-and-feed production to promote sustainable crops. The authors argue this approach could enhance plant growth, health, pollination, and resilience.
The leftovers from insect production come in two main forms: exuviae, the exoskeletons left behind after molting, and frass, named for the German word for eating. Frass is "basically insect poop and unconsumed food," says Dicke.