Urban Nuisance to Agricultural Asset: Scientists Transform Goose Waste Into Sustainable Protein and Fertilizer

New research shows black soldier fly larvae can turn goose waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer that increases plant yields by 32 percent.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 6:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Earth.com

Converting a Public Nuisance Into a Circular Resource

In cities across North America, the increasing presence of Canada geese has moved beyond a seasonal sighting to a significant public health and maintenance challenge. Parks, sports fields, and waterfronts are frequently blanketed in droppings that create foul odors and disrupt local ecosystems through nutrient runoff. However, new research led by Rassim Khelifa at Concordia University suggest that this pervasive urban waste stream could be repurposed. By viewing goose droppings not as a pollutant but as a raw material, scientists have identified a biological pathway to transform fecal matter into valuable agricultural commodities, potentially resolving a major urban management issue.

The Black Soldier Fly as a Biological Processor

The central engine of this transformation is the black soldier fly, an insect species already utilized globally for its ability to digest organic waste. Researchers conducted a series of laboratory experiments in southern Quebec and Ontario to determine if black soldier fly larvae could thrive on a diet of goose feces. While the larvae showed the most robust growth when the droppings were mixed with standard feed, they successfully survived and consumed more than 50 percent of the material when fed goose waste alone. This demonstrates that these insects are capable of acting as a "living filter," concentrating the nutrients found in avian waste into their own bodies.

The Essential Role of Natural Microbes

A critical finding of the study involves the symbiotic relationship between the insects and the bacteria naturally present in the bird droppings. When the researchers sterilized the waste through a high-pressure heat process known as autoclaving, the performance of the larvae significantly declined. The sterilized diet resulted in slower growth and lower survival rates, indicating that the natural microbial community within the goose waste is essential for the insect’s development. This suggests that the bacteria often viewed as a sanitation risk are, in the context of this biological cycle, a necessary component for efficient waste processing.