SUPRFRASS
The overall aim of SUPRFRASS is to gain a comprehensive and applied understanding how rearing substrates and processing strategies influence the composition, safety, and application potential of BSF frass. Rather than treating frass as a residual by-product, the project positions it as a co-product whose value can be optimised for sustainable agriculture and the circular bioeconomy.
The SUPRFRASS project specifically aims to:
Investigate substrate effects on frass quality by studying various organic by-products, including complex streams like meat and fish residues, to expand feedstock options and support regulatory evolution.
Evaluate processing strategies, thermal and innovative non-thermal methods (acid/base extraction, pyrolysis), to ensure safety, nutrient retention, and valorisation of both solid and liquid fractions.
Assess agronomic potential through plant trials under stress conditions to determine frass effectiveness as fertiliser, soil improver, or biostimulant.
Ensure microbiological safety by tracking microbial dynamics from substrate to plant systems, identifying hazards and benefits.
The project will deliver scientific insights, predictive models, and practical recommendations for safe, standardized, and high-value frass valorisation, contributing to resilient and sustainable agriculture in Flanders and beyond.
Results
• D1.1 January 2027 Selection of two most promising frass types from two different BSF rearing substrates.
• D1.2 March 2028 Adapted substrate-rearing model for optimised coproduction of BSF larvae and BSF frass.
• D2.1 July 2027 Selection of three most promising products to progress to the plant growth experiments in WP3.
• D3.1 March 2028 - Scientific peer-reviewed open access publications (2) on the influences of frass composition and/or frass processing techniques on plant growth, performance and quality characteristics.
• D3.2 March 2028 Formulation of specific advices for horti- and agriculture regarding the beneficial properties of specific frass amendments to either food or ornamental crops.
• D4.1 March 2028 Scientific peer-reviewed open access publication on the microbiological safety and dynamics of frass throughout its production and application chain.
