Urban Farming

Black Soldier Fly Bioreactors Turn Food Waste into Plant Protection and Farm Resources

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:41:00 GMT

What if food waste wasn’t something to get rid of but a resource waiting to be tapped? Researchers at University of California, Riverside are exploring whether a small, insect-powered system could help growers close the loop, turning everyday scraps into new biological tools that support healthier plants, stronger soils and more self-reliant farms.

Black soldier fly bioreactors are gaining attention as a promising way to turn waste into resources, creating feed for poultry and fish, while also producing frass that could help strengthen plant defenses. For specialty crop growers and urban farmers, the research carries particular relevance.

Professor Kerry Mauck has been studying how black soldier fly systems influence plants, and one of the most intriguing concepts is what she describes as a “vaccine-like” effect. Insects, fungi and other organisms that commonly interact with plants contain chitin, a structural polymer. When tiny fragments of chitin from the insects’ exoskeletons show up in soil, plants recognize the signal.

Mauck explains that the bits of chitin become “a molecular signature of something that the plant might want to ramp up its defenses to fight off.” Because frass contains both chitin and microbes that help break it down into smaller pieces, plants can respond as if they are preparing for attack, thus switching on natural defense systems before any threat arrives.

“It’s like activating those defenses without the attack that comes right after,” Mauck says. “If something else does come in, the plant is ready for it.”

Black soldier fly adults sunning themselves on the walls of the greenhouse housing the bioreactor.

(Photo courtesy of Mauck Lab BSF Team)

Built With Small and Specialty Growers in Mind

While large commercial systems exist, Mauck’s team intentionally designed a small, adaptable setup.

“Ours is one of the first that’s been tested and published that would operate on a small scale,” she says. The goal was to make it feasible for small and medium-sized farms and growers with limited space. The main requirement is an enclosed area with some temperature control — such as a greenhouse or a simple building with windows.

The footprint can be as modest as a single bin, roughly a meter and a half square, but growers can add additional bins in a row as their operation grows. Importantly, most of the materials are common agricultural supplies.

“The bins are like bins you might use to harvest fruit,” she says, noting buckets, shovels and hardware-store materials made up most of the system’s needs.

Urban farmers might find the flexibility attractive, although Mauck cautions that community gardens could face coordination challenges around who maintains the system week-to-week. In the university trial, undergraduate workers were able to keep the system running with about five to 10 hours per week of labor.

BSF larvae eating food waste from the UCR dining hall.

(Photo courtesy of Mauck Lab BSF Team)

Beyond Feed: Soil Biology and Plant Resilience

Beyond producing feed for poultry and fish, Mauck sees some of the greatest potential benefits happening underground.

The chitin and organic matter appear to encourage beneficial bacteria that help keep soil-borne pathogens in check.

“The other great thing about the materials that are in the frass … is that a lot of microbes that are beneficial, that can actually suppress diseases in the soil, thrive on these materials,” she says.

Her team is now exploring whether even small doses of frass could build healthier soil ecosystems while keeping application costs low.

“We’re trying to see what’s the smallest dose … that can still be effective,” Mauck says.

For specialty crop farms, the research suggests several takeaways:

Closed-loop opportunity: Waste streams can become feed and soil amendments instead of disposal costs
Plant-defense potential: Frass might “prime” crops to better respond to pests and disease
Scalable design: Systems can start small and expand
Labor remains a factor: Clear responsibilities and training are essential, especially in shared garden settings

As scientists learn more about how frass shapes soil biology and plant defenses, this insect-powered approach could become one of the simplest ways to close the loop on nutrients.

Why it's Never Too Late to Grow

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:04:43 GMT

When Steve Hackett retired in 2020, he had no idea he was about to discover a new calling as a farmer. As he began tending to his gardens and orchards, his journey resonated with a global audience and transformed him into FarmerSteve727, an accidental TikTok sensation to tens of thousands.

At 60, Hackett and his wife bought five acres in northern Connecticut and gave new life to a neglected former horse farm that had gone wild after two decades of little care. Instead of seeing an overwhelming mess, Hackett says he saw possibility. Followers on TikTok saw the same, and his account eventually grew to 67,000 followers.

“I never did gardening before or anything,” he says. “But I always wanted to have fruit trees … so I said, I’m going to put a little orchard in, and I’m going to start gardening.”

Hackett dived into research on food forests and permaculture, determined to grow as much food as possible, while making it as visually appealing as possible. Over time, he planted about 30 fruit trees, mostly peaches, apples and pears, along with a few cherries. Planted in 2022, the trees are finally starting to reward his patience, especially the peaches, which have become a household staple.

The work started simply with clearing brush, pulling poison ivy and imagining what the land could become. Curious neighbors watched from lawn chairs as he slowly carved out garden beds and experimented with raised beds, vegetables, pumpkins and, eventually, towering sunflowers. These same 12-to-14-foot sunflowers led to Hackett’s first viral video.

Today, the harvests are far beyond the “two or three tomatoes” he once celebrated. He cans, freezes and shares generously. “I give a lot away … the senior center gets bags every week,” he says.

Screenshot from FarmerSteve727’s TikTok account.

(Courtesy of FarmerSteve727 via TikTok)

TikTok wasn’t part of the original plan. It started as a family suggestion, sort of a joke, he says, until his first videos suddenly drew an audience. Overnight, FarmerSteve727 found 1,000 followers; within a year, he had 8,000. Then came the idea that changed everything: a sunflower “room” beside his koi pond.

He planted the structure of sunflowers in a semi-circle, illuminated it with lights, added chairs and waited. Hackett says he filmed the progress as the sunflower room came to life.

That first video of the sunflowers is when his followers started to increase exponentially.

“I put a video on in June, and overnight, I got 17,000 more followers. I think the original video got 2.5 million views, and then I put a second one on, and that one got like 1.8 million views, and then it took off from there.”

By that time, Hackett says he was up to about 34,000 followers within a couple of weeks, and the growth just continued, he says.

People connected with the creativity, but also the message, realizing that if he could do it, maybe they could, too.

Despite his online popularity, Hackett doesn’t see himself as an expert. He sees himself as a student who happens to share the journey.

He’s learned what many lifelong growers eventually do: The garden runs on patience.

“It isn’t instant,” he says. “Once you plant something, everything in the world is going to try to eat it. It’s a challenge, but I really enjoy it.”

He’s also found unexpected joy in foods he never thought he’d love, particularly squash and zucchini, and in the simple rhythm of tending, harvesting, cooking and preserving.

This year, after undergoing surgery and scaling back pumpkins, he focused instead on expanding a sunflower maze and thinking about what’s next. Part of that future involves rebuilding much of the garden so he can film clearer how-to videos and talk more directly to the camera.

TikTok viewers might soon see “Cooking with Farmer Steve,” along with new raised beds, longer-form storytelling and more behind-the-scenes glimpses into the work.

“I want to rebuild it and make better videos of how I did it,” Hackett says. “And I’m going to add something special to the sunflower maze.”

What started as a retirement project has become an orchard, a garden, a creative playground and a source of encouragement to thousands of people who dream of growing something themselves.

Maybe that’s why Hackett resonates with his followers. He didn’t start farming at 20 or 40. He began at 60 with curiosity, time and the willingness to learn out loud.

And standing inside a glowing room of sunflowers taller than he ever imagined, Farmer Steve says he’s still just getting started.

Planting Big Dreams: America’s Youngest Farmer Growing More Than Produce

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:01:54 GMT

At just 10 years old, Kendall Rae Johnson is the youngest certified farmer in the U.S., and her hard work has already earned her a full scholarship to South Carolina State University.

Johnson’s journey started in her family’s backyard in Georgia when her great-grandmother taught her to grow collard greens from clippings. That simple tradition sparked a love of farming that quickly grew into something bigger.

Johnson’s accomplishments grew quickly, and by the time she was 6, she was recognized as the youngest certified farmer in the U.S. At 9, she received a full-ride scholarship in agriculture from South Carolina State University — the youngest to receive this honor as well. She’s gone on speaking tours, written a book and is about to publish an accompanying workbook, launched a marinara sauce and plans to create a natural skincare line. Then in 2023, a Georgia resolution declared that March 23 would be recognized as Kendall Rae Johnson Day. All by the ripe old age of 10.

When asked how it felt to receive the news of the scholarship, Johnson says, “Well, I just felt happy and excited that someone believed in me enough to give me a full-ride scholarship to college at only 10 years old.”

As a USDA National Urban Agriculture Youth Ambassador, Johnson says she wants to share her experience to help other youth achieve their dreams.

“I want them to know they can dream big and with the right tools and support, we can make those dreams come true,” Johnson says.

Kendall Rae Johnson’s journey is proof that age isn’t a barrier in agriculture. With vision, passion and help from parents and community, you can plant seeds of change — and watch them bloom.

Your Next Read: How the Youngest Certified Farmer in the U.S. Earned Her Full Scholarship