Author: Monika Kaczor, Piotr Bulak, Piotr Waligórski, Andrzej Bieganowski
Citation: Kaczor, Monika, et al. "Linking waste recycling and sustainable agriculture: Phytohormone-rich biofertilizer from black soldier fly frass." Journal of Cleaner Production 548 (2026): 147855.
Abstract:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095965262600394X
Organic fertilizers obtained through bioconversion processes represent a key component of sustainable and cleaner agricultural production systems. Among these, insect frass has emerged as a promising biofertilizer due to its nutrient richness, beneficial microbiota, and plant growth-promoting properties. However, the phytohormonal composition of frass produced by Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly, BSF) larvae remains insufficiently characterized. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of 3 major phytohormone group in BSF frass and frass leachates derived from the bioconversion of pea (PW) and bean (BW) seed waste - representative agri-food by-products from legumes. Both substrates supported efficient larval development, with BW frass exhibiting higher concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid, stress-related hormones, and total sum of cytokinins, while PW leachates contained elevated levels of trans-zeatin, cis-zeatin and IP. IAA and some cytokinines were also detected in the larvae, suggesting metabolic interactions between insects, microbiota, and substrates. Overall, our findings reveal that BSF-mediated waste bioconversion enhances the phytohormonal composition of frass more than its decomposition with only microbiota, thereby increasing its potential as a multifunctional, eco-friendly biofertilizer. This approach illustrates how insect bioconversion can add functional value to agri-food waste within sustainable production systems.
Author: Monika Kaczor, Piotr Bulak, Piotr Waligórski, Andrzej Bieganowski
Citation: Kaczor, Monika, et al. "Linking waste recycling and sustainable agriculture: Phytohormone-rich biofertilizer from black soldier fly frass." Journal of Cleaner Production 548 (2026): 147855.
Abstract:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095965262600394X
Organic fertilizers obtained through bioconversion processes represent a key component of sustainable and cleaner agricultural production systems. Among these, insect frass has emerged as a promising biofertilizer due to its nutrient richness, beneficial microbiota, and plant growth-promoting properties. However, the phytohormonal composition of frass produced by Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly, BSF) larvae remains insufficiently characterized. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of 3 major phytohormone group in BSF frass and frass leachates derived from the bioconversion of pea (PW) and bean (BW) seed waste - representative agri-food by-products from legumes. Both substrates supported efficient larval development, with BW frass exhibiting higher concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid, stress-related hormones, and total sum of cytokinins, while PW leachates contained elevated levels of trans-zeatin, cis-zeatin and IP. IAA and some cytokinines were also detected in the larvae, suggesting metabolic interactions between insects, microbiota, and substrates. Overall, our findings reveal that BSF-mediated waste bioconversion enhances the phytohormonal composition of frass more than its decomposition with only microbiota, thereby increasing its potential as a multifunctional, eco-friendly biofertilizer. This approach illustrates how insect bioconversion can add functional value to agri-food waste within sustainable production systems.