UC Riverside scientists have developed a small, affordable food waste recycling system that uses black soldier flies to convert food scraps into high-protein animal feed and fertilizer. Unlike large industrial facilities, this DIY bioreactor can be built from off-the-shelf materials, run by a single person, and used where food waste is generated — such as farms, greenhouses, or large residences. In the system, black soldier fly larvae break down food waste, producing larvae valuable as poultry or fish feed and frass, a nutrient-rich soil amendment that may also stimulate plant defenses. Maintaining stable conditions (like temperature and pH) is key, and the research, co-authored by entomologist Kerry Mauck, shows that this method not only manages waste but creates useful resources.