Emmanuel Mendoza, an aerospace engineering student at Texas A&M University, is conducting groundbreaking research using black soldier flies to help pea plants grow in simulated Martian soil. By experimenting with different amounts of insect waste, known as “frass,” Mendoza discovered that adding 10% frass to Martian soil optimizes plant growth. Surprisingly, even with 0% frass, plants showed resilience and thrived in the red regolith. Mendoza believes his work can lead to innovative farming techniques for Earth and sustainable agriculture in outer space. His research was presented at the Entomological Society of America Conference, highlighting the potential of insect waste in supporting life beyond Earth.
https://phys.org/news/2024-06-aerospace-student-black-soldier-flies.html