Undergraduate

Category: Health/Sustainability
Degree Level: B.S. in Social Entrepreneurship
Abstract 607

Commercial
Vermicomposting in
Developing Countries

A Literature Review and Research Agenda

to Address Supply-Side Challenges

Author: Alex R. Vipond

Faculty Advisor: Professor Dennis Shaughnessy

KEY FINDINGS
Organic fertilizer restores nutrients to soil, and can be produced from human
feces through vermicomposting (composting with earthworms).
Vermicomposting inactivates many disease-causing bacteria, but not the eggs
of parasitic worms. However, nematophagous fungi could biologically control
parasitic worm populations in feces, compost, soil, food, and water.
To improve sanitation through commercial vermicomposting in developing
countries, urine-diverting dry toilets need to be adopted by residents of poor
communities.

RESEARCH AGENDA
Investigate the ability of the nematophagous fungus P. chlamydosporia to control populations of the parasitic worm A. lumbricoides before, during, and after
vermicomposting.
Investigate the ability of P. chlamydosporia to continue acting as a biopesticide
against A. lumbricoides when vermicompost is applied to fields.
Investigate the effects of behavioral and economic incentives on urine-diverting
dry toilet adoption in developing countries, especially in poor urban communities but also in poor rural communities.

INTRODUCTION
Over the past twenty-five years, innovations in the practice of lending to
the poor, research in behavioral economics, and the ongoing evaluation of
microcredit have led to specialized, effectively distributed agricultural
microcredit to assist poor farmers in purchasing inorganic fertilizer (Banerjee
et. al, 2015; Duflo et. al, 2009; Yunus, 1999). Policymakers and researchers
across the world are actively working to improve farmers access to inorganic
fertilizer (Benson et. al, 2012; Chibwana et. al, 2011, Duflo, 2009; Scherr and
Yadav, 1996).
In my literature review, with a supply-side emphasis, I discuss the social,
economic, and environmental implications of producing vermicompost from
human feces as a substitute for the inorganic fertilizer typically acquired
through agricultural microcredit.

KEYWORDS
Vermicompost

Organic material (plant waste, manure, human waste) that has been broken
down by earthworms into basic soil nutrients. Vermicomposters use the
earthworm species E. fetida, also known as the red wiggler.

Inorganic Fertilizer

Chemically manufactured, concentrated doses of nutrients that help plants

grow. Very effective when applied correctly, but erodes soil and kills plants
when over-applied. Over time, it creates dead soil, or soil that cannot
self-replenish plant nutrients.

WHY THIS MATTERS

UDDT

Policy makers are actively improving poor farmers access to inorganic fertilizer, but inorganic fertilizer damages agricultural soil ecosystems.

Nematode ova

Current regulations on commercial composting are not structured enough

to ensure the inactivation of all disease-causing organisms. The eggs of
parasitic worms are particularly difficult to inactivate, and warrant more
regulatory attention.

Urine-Diverting Dry Toilet. A non-flushing toilet designed to separate urine

from feces so that they can be re-purposed.

Eggs (ova) of intestinal parasitic worms (nematodes) that commonly infect

children in the developing world. A symptom of nematode infection is a distended belly.

Nematophagous fungi

Fungi that prey upon nematodes. Many researchers want to learn how to
spread them on fields as a biological pesticide against nematodes.

25% of the world population risks disease daily by drinking water that is
contaminated by feces. Better sanitation will decontaminate water and
prevent disease.

ACTION PLAN
Seek funding and a partnership with a soil science lab, especially one with experience researching vermicomposted human waste and/or biological control of
A. lumbricoides through nematophagous fungi.
Publish research results in academic journals, and disseminate them to academic peers, commercial composters in the developing world, and policymakers.
Monitor results from upcoming studies on incentives for sustainable sanitation.
Write a business plan for commercial vermicomposting in developing countries
based on all research results.

REFERENCES
Banerjee, A. et. al. 2015. "6 Rand. Eval. of Micro." Am. Econ. Journ., 7(1): 1-21. | Benson, T. et. al. (2012). The supply of inorg. fert. | Chibwana, C., et. al (2011). Crop. All. Effects Ag. In.Subs. World Dev., Volume 40(Issue 1), 124-133. | Duflo, E., et. al. (2009).
Nudg. Farm. Use Fert. Am. Econ. Review, 2350-2390. | Scherr S. et. al. Land deg. dev. world. IFPRI, Food, Agric. Env. Disc. Pap. 14, Washington, DC; 1996. | Yunus, M., & Jolis, A. (1999). Banker to the poor. New York: PublicAffairs.