This Pesky Insect Could Help Solve a Global Problem
Australian scientists are working on genetic modifications that could solve the problem of overproduction of human-generated waste. And it’s all thanks to a common insect that we ward off every day.
Black fly comes to the rescue
According to scientists, a suitably genetically modified fly, can not only eat more organic waste, but also produce useful materials from it, such as biofuels, lubricants, or even animal food. The black fly (also known as the black soldier fly) is already used in organic waste processing. However, a small genetic change could significantly expand its range of applications.
Australian scientists from Macquarie University in Sydney have just published the results of their research, according to which black flies can help humanity fight climate change.
The world is heading towards a climate catastrophe. One of the causes is waste in landfills that release methane into the atmosphere. We need to eliminate this phenomenon.
– says Dr. Kate Tepper.
Soon we will drown in garbage
According to researchers, an important element of the fight for the climate on our planet is the management of organic waste, which humanity generates about one billion tons per year. The use of flies and their larvae may solve this problem. The choice of the black fly is not accidental – it is very easy to genetically control and occurs on almost all continents. The female lays from 500 to 900 eggs, in a cycle of 5 to 9 days. The larvae can eat twice their body weight in waste. In a word, it is nothing more than cheap and efficient labor in the process of eliminating organic waste. Scientists are currently looking for a way to create a closed loop, in which waste will be part of the process of creating new products from them.
Dr. Tepper’s team has even established a commercial company that will use their discoveries to create a genetically modified fly that can be used in garbage disposal facilities.
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