French producer of farmed insects Ÿnsect has become the first company in the world to obtain certification and marketing approval for a natural fertilizer made from insect by-products. Authorization for the fertilizer ŸnFrass, which is derived from mealworm waste, or “frass,” was issued by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). The certification provides agricultural producers worldwide with a new tool for organic farming that can potentially increase crop yield while producing raw materials free from chemical or synthetic treatments.

“Since the opening of Ÿnsite, our pilot plant four years ago, Ÿnsect has sought to use the by-products of protein production from Molitor, in particular frass. The marketing of ŸnFrass products by Ÿnsect is part of a ‘zero waste’ vision using all components of the farmed insect and contributing to a more circular economy,” says Antoine Hubert, Ÿnsect CEO.

Trends in sustainability and organic foods continue to play an important role as consumers looking for healthy, wholesome foods with an environmental impact. Innova Market Insights reports that Western Europe is leading the way, with organic claims accounting for 18.6 percent of total F&B launches in 2019.

Meanwhile, the market researcher names “Sustain Domain” as a Top Ten Trend of 2020, with 87 percent of consumers surveyed between 2018 and 2019 reporting that they “expect companies to invest in sustainability.”

Hatching potential
ŸnFrass is the product of four years of research and development between Ÿnsect and several other research institutions. The company reports “very encouraging” tests showing a significant increase in biomass and yield on all crops tested compared to the use of a 100 percent chemical fertilizer.

“ŸnFrass has great potential to be used as a partial or complete substitute for mineral fertilizers. Its high content of nutrients and organic matter as well as its physicochemical characteristics allow ŸnFrass to be as efficient as mineral fertilizers in plant nutrition and biomass production,” says David Houben, researcher and co-author on two ŸnFrass papers, including one published in Nature – Scientific Reports.

In addition, researchers found improved soil health while ensuring the delivery of essential elements for crops. The greenhouse tests show that microbial activity increases sharply in the presence of ŸnFrass (+180 percent on loamy-clay soil and + 250 percent on luvisol) compared to soil fertilized with a mineral fertilizer. The company concludes, therefore, that ŸnFrass helps to increase the organic matter present and improve the texture of the soil.

“Most importantly, the application of ŸnFrass can increase microbial metabolic activity and diversity, suggesting better soil function, especially when ŸnFrass is combined with a mineral fertilizer. Our results suggest that Ÿnfrass is a very promising and lasting alternative to conventional mineral fertilizers,” Houben adds.

After a first conclusive test on large crops such as wheat, rapeseed and corn in 2018, ŸnFrass was tested on other types of crops wher the product also demonstrated performance in terms of yield, in particular, the company found:
 

In vegetable cultivation, the results of the tests are “very encouraging,” particularly on lettuce and potatoes, both in terms of yield and health.

On vines, researchers observed a 23 percent increase in yield and better soil quality compared to the control without fertilization. The use of ŸnFrass also made it possible to observe an excellent balance of nutrients in the petioles, suggesting potential in improved quality of the wine.

On ornamental plants, especially roses, the team observed a marked improvement in blooming and better resistance to summer drought compared to an organic fertilizer with equivalent nutrient content.

“This certification and market approval is the result of the most stringent evaluation procedures for this type of products and is a guarantee of the highest quality, giving us the ability to export globally,” concludes Hubert.