Doing the Dirty Work of Sustainability
April 17, 2026
By Ashlie Bowman
David Hu, a professor in the Woodruff School and the School of Biological Sciences, gave his senior-level biology class a unique assignment this semester: Feed food waste to black soldier fly larvae, collect the organic byproduct (called “frass”), and analyze the results. Their findings suggest a composting method that can dramatically reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions while producing a nutrient-dense fertilizer.