The bug solution: LPU students turn food waste into fertiliser
Organic kitchen waste, if left to rot, can pose serious health hazards and release foul odours. But students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) have devised an innovative, hygienic solution that could transform the way the world handles food scraps.
Sudhanshu Raikwar, Dasari Naresh and Devina Sharma, the student innovators, have developed a sustainable waste management system using the black soldier fly — a harmless and highly efficient insect. Their project, aptly named “Insect Revolution,” harnesses the power of nature, artificial intelligence and automation to convert organic waste into fertiliser in under three weeks, without leaving behind any smell or residue.
“Black soldier flies are not just any bugs,” the students explained. “At first glance, they might seem insignificant. But when combined with AI, IoT automation and smart sensors, these insects are capable of turning food waste into nutrient-rich compost — in a fraction of the time traditional composting takes.”
The Team Waste Warriors, as they call themselves, envisions their technology being adopted by governments, urban planners and sustainable industries to reduce landfill dependency and cut down harmful emissions.
How it works
The process begins in a fully automated breeding chamber, where adult black soldier flies lay thousands of eggs in a climate-controlled environment. Smart sensors maintain optimal conditions — temperatures between 27 to 35 degrees C and humidity levels of 60-70 per cent — ensuring consistent hatching without manual intervention.
Once hatched, the black soldier fly larvae begin consuming organic matter, including food scraps, manure and agricultural waste. These larvae are incredibly efficient, consuming up to 10 times their body weight each day, making the process 50 per cent faster than traditional composting methods.
The system uses IoT-integrated sensors to monitor carbon dioxide and ammonia levels, automatically adjusting airflow and moisture to keep the environment odour-free and hygienic. Following digestion, the residual frass — a dry, nutrient-rich compost — is transported via smart conveyor belts, where it’s filtered, dried and refined into a clean product loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
A key innovation is the AI-based sorting mechanism, which weighs the larvae and determines their next role — whether they will be used for breeding or compost production — eliminating human handling and ensuring continuous, seamless waste processing.
With this project, the students are not just managing waste — they’re reimagining waste as a resource. Their “Insect Revolution” proves that nature, when paired with smart technology, holds the key to a cleaner, greener future.
Jalandhar