Sustainability
The practice of utilizing Black Soldier Fly Larvae to break down food waste that would otherwise be relegated to landfills, and re-introducing those nutrients to plants and animals is the purest form of regenerative farming. The United States generates over 78 million tons of food waste every year, and much of that (if not all of that) waste can be recycled back into the food chain through the use of BSF larvae processing.
The global generation of waste is expected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050, and up to 44% of the total accumulated waste currently comprise biodegradable materials globally, with a higher proportion in low to middle-income countries; of this accumulated waste today, most is either disposed in landfills (37%) or open dumps (33%).
That food waste can be re-used in many ways, from feeding livestock and fish to nourishing plants to powering cars and airplanes. We literally could be powering all our vehicles with the food we throw away!
What is BSFL Frass?
Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) Frass is an all natural, organic soil rejuvenation supplement created by black soldier larvae (Hermetia Illucens). It is the combination of their exoskeletal and exudate matter. Sonoma-Organic frass stimulates plant growth by combining bio stimulants and nutrients. It creates a superior natural alternative to fertilizer that boosts plant health and growth. In addition to serving as a perfect fertilizer, it also contains Chitin, an ingredient found in BSFL larvae exoskeletons that, when introduced to plants as food, triggers the creation of Chitinase within the plant, which serves as a natural pest repellent with no effects to the plant or its consumer.
Our product boosts natural plant defenses. Frass protects plants against fungi, nematodes, bacteria, viruses, and insects. Frass can also reliably heal plants from wounds and damages. Many farmers use pesticides that are harmful to plants and humans, but frass is all-natural and makes plants stronger and free from harmful life forms.
Frass is becoming increasingly available in the marketplace; however, much of what is available today is sourced from overseas where little is known about what the black soldier fly larvae are consuming to generate the frass. Black soldier fly larvae are considered ideal candidates for generating frass thanks to their ability to consume almost anything outside of metal or plastic. Overseas frass suppliers provide no information to the nutritional and heavy metals analyses of their product, leaving no guarantees that their frass is free of pesticides, poisons, or other harmful toxins. We guarantee that our frass is 100% American Made in Sonoma County, California, and is fed purely pre-consumer waste from grocery stores, the same food we feed our families. A detailed nutrient analysis and heavy metals analysis is available on this website under product info.
Frass can augment carbon capture from the atmosphere
By generating frass, not only are we creating a product that contains nutrients that plants need to optimize photosynthesis in a perfect ratio, but we are preventing food waste from decomposing into methane, a known contributor to climate change.
Advantages of the presence of the Black Soldier Fly
The Black Soldier Fly, native to the USA and common across the world, competes with the domestic housefly for resources. Unlike the domestic housefly, however, which is a major spreader of disease, the Black Soldier Fly has no mouth, no stinger, cannot transmit disease, and cannot bite. The Black Soldier Fly, once fully matured, focuses solely on creating eggs for new larvae, which do have a mouth, and are second to none when it comes to breaking down organic waste.
Not only are Black Soldier Fly larvae extremely adept at breaking down food waste -- they are extremely good at breaking down practically ANY organic waste. They will in fact eat anything that isn't rock, metal or plastic -- which can be good and bad, depending on what the end use of that BSFL might be. BSFL can break down manure, old construction wood, railroad ties... which may or may not include toxins from paint or oil or various other pollutants. If that BSFL is headed for your local chicken farm, it can be detrimental to the safety of those chickens -- as well as the individuals who may later buy that chicken at the grocery store!
The marketplace is filled with low-cost BSFL from overseas that may or may not have been fed dangerous chemicals, and unfortunately there is no way to know what has gone into them. It is important to know what your BSFL are fed so that they are put to the correct usage -- a trough of BSFL being fed materials not suitable for feed may be appropriate for a biodiesel application... but it is imporant that the growers make that distinction!
When managed correctly, BSFL can break down more than simply food waste -- and can further reduce landfill materiel and re-direct important nutrients back into the economy in verticals alongside food production!
Defatted BSFL can replace soybeans in pet foods, dramatically lowering the amount of land required to grow soybeans
By separating BSFL oil from the grub, two very versatile products can result. De-fatted BSFL can replace soybean meal (at an identical price-point) for use in pet foods. The real advantage here is the fact that, for every acre of land dedicated to raising and generating BSFL, you can generate the same amount of protein as 1 HECTARE of soybeans! In other words, you can generate the same amount of protein for 1/1000th of the land! In a world where many go hungry due to a lack of food access, even here in the US, it is absolutely critical to maximize the productivity of the farmland that you have. By redirecting food waste to BSFL larvae, we can eliminate millions of tons of waste, and feed the world with the livestock fed the larvae!
BSFL Oil has endless applications, from high-end skin creams to biodiesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel
BSFL oil is already being hailed as an anti-aging skin treatment, and is increasingly found in high-end skin creams. BSFL oil is also already being used in biodiesel applications, because of its incredibly high lipid profile, and its high oil content in comparison to vegetables. By utilizing BSFL for biodiesel production, you can effectively create automotive power in enough volume to power the entire United States with the food we are currently throwing away!
For every five pounds of BSFL you can generate three pounds of defatted BSFL, one pound of 'slaw', and one pound of BSFL oil; With 78 million tons of food waste, and with Americans consuming 20-21 million tons of oil per year for various applications, BSFL oil could have a MAJOR impact on domestic energy production, in a net-zero carbon cycle.
BSFL oil is also increasingly being employed as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and has the ability to dramatically reduce aviation emissions, by increasingly utilizing the circular economy of plant life to extract carbon from the atmosphere, generating food which can be fed to BSFL, to create the oil that is combusted in jet engines, rather than burning fossil fuels.
Not only does that result in lower waste in landfills, less carbon in the atmosphere, and less fossil fuels being consumed -- the money spent on domestically-produced BSFL oil stays in-country, where it strengthens the economy of the USA!
What is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative farming is a way of farming and harvesting crops that supports and sustains the environment. This way of farming is self-sufficient and sustainable. Unlike conventional farming, which often depletes soil nutrients and damages ecosystems through chemical inputs and monocropping, regenerative farming aims to enrich the soil and promote a thriving ecosystem. These practices not only improve soil fertility and water retention but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making regenerative farming a sustainable solution to feeding a growing global population while combating climate change.
Frass improves soil health by fostering microbial activity, which in turn enhances plant growth and resilience. By recycling organic waste into frass, farmers contribute to a circular economy, reducing food waste and reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The result is fresher, healthier food and a significant positive impact on the environment through reduced pollution, better soil health, and increased carbon sequestration.