How a Local Company is Revolutionizing Food Waste Reduction with Insects

Aubrey Fornwalt runs Full Circle Bioconversion in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Her company is unique; it uses black soldier fly larvae to turn food waste into compost. This innovative process helps reduce food waste by 50-80%, an important step in sustainability. Full Circle Bioconversion partners with local businesses, including Bullfrog Brewery and Kathy’s Cafe, making a real impact in the community.

Why black soldier fly larvae? Fornwalt believes they offer a valuable solution to food waste. “My goal is to create an alternative to landfills and keep our food in a cycle,” she says. This mission is clear in her company’s name — Full Circle Bioconversion.

While BSFL compost may not have as high a nutrient ratio as traditional worm compost, it brings its own benefits. Fornwalt explains that using larvae compost enriches the soil with beneficial microbes. “These organisms help plants thrive and create stronger roots. They also improve soil’s ability to hold water, making it more resilient during droughts,” she adds.

This spring, she’s teaming up with the University of Delaware on a study examining the effects of frass (larvae manure) on fiber flax. The research will compare different soil amendments to see how they influence weed and insect pressures during the growing season. Fornwalt is particularly interested in how larvae frass can help plants fend off pests.

Aubrey’s path to becoming a fly farmer was quite unexpected. She spent 14 years in journalism before deciding to pivot her career. “I eventually realized journalism wasn’t fulfilling,” she recalls. After moving back in with her parents, she focused on her passion for composting. She worked with the Department of Environmental Protection to establish her operation, which is now the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. Everything is done in a family-owned barn, where she processes between 600 and 1,000 pounds of food waste each week.

Since she started, Fornwalt has diverted over 188,000 pounds of food waste. This impressive figure might seem small in the grand scheme of waste reduction, but it shows the significant impact of her operation. “That food has all gone to insects, which is pretty amazing,” she concludes.

According to a 2022 report from the EPA, food waste accounts for nearly 30-40% of the total food supply in the U.S. Finding innovative solutions like Fornwalt’s could help address this issue. As society becomes more aware of sustainability, businesses like Full Circle Bioconversion are leading the charge to create a circular economy, preventing food waste and enriching our soil for future generations.

As conversations about environmental sustainability gain traction online, more consumers are embracing eco-friendly practices, making Fornwalt’s mission all the more relevant. Her innovative approach not only promotes sustainability but also engages the community in new and exciting ways.

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