The Facts

• A team of scientists from Sydney's Macquarie University is genetically modifying black soldier flies (BSF) to increase their consumption of humanity's organic waste.A team of scientists from Australia's Macquarie University in Sydney is genetically modifying black soldier flies to increase their consumption of humanity's organic waste.

• In a paper published Wednesday in Communications Biology, scientists said BSF could curb the planet-warming methane emitted into the atmosphere when organic waste breaks down.In a paper published Wednesday in Communications Biology, scientists said black soldier flies could curb the planet-warming methane emitted into the atmosphere when organic waste breaks down.

• BSFs aren't pests, don't bite, or carry diseases. Their larvae can be pet food, digest all kinds of human waste, and even be processed into plastic.Black soldier flies aren't pests, don't bite, or carry diseases. Their larvae can be pet food, digest all kinds of human waste, and even be processed into plastic.