Insects raised on weeds could replace herbicides on farms
Onyango LO, Beesigamukama D, Muthomi JW, Sevgan S, Tanga CM
Weed Management
The weeds you're yanking out of your garden beds could theoretically feed a batch of crickets or black soldier fly larvae instead of going in the compost pile, and their droppings could go right back into your soil as a fertilizer that also fights weeds and pests.
Weeds are usually treated as enemies that farmers kill with chemicals, but this review looks at a different idea: let insects eat the weeds instead. Certain insects can grow well on weed-based diets, turning unwanted plants into protein-packed food for people or livestock. Even better, the leftover insect waste (called frass) can be spread on fields to improve soil and even suppress new weeds and pests, closing the loop on the whole process.
Key Findings
Weeds can cut crop yields by 19% to 100%, and management still relies heavily on synthetic herbicides
Insects raised on weed-based diets produce biomass with 35% to 61% crude protein, suitable for human food and animal feed
Weed-fed insects show 34% to 100% improvements in growth, reproduction, survival and weight gain, and their frass byproduct improves soil health while suppressing pests, pathogens and weeds
chevron_right Technical Summary
Instead of spraying weeds with herbicides, farmers could feed them to edible insects, turning a crop problem into protein-rich food and livestock feed while the leftover insect waste improves soil and suppresses future weeds.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Circular economy of insect farming as an innovative strategy for weed management.
Weeds can reduce crop yields by 19% to 100%, yet their management remains heavily dependent on synthetic herbicides, despite growing concerns about environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and ri...
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