Enterprising UAE Students Transform Chicken Feathers Into Eco-Friendly Biofertiliser

Three resourceful UAE teenagers are turning discarded chicken feathers into innovative biofertiliser, launching a project that could potentially aid farmers and decrease agricultural waste worldwide. Adit Mital, Anushka Harlalka and Maanit Misra dedicated months to developing BioFeathers, a specialized process utilizing bacteria to break down chicken feathers and convert them into valuable plant nutrients. What initially began as a school science project has successfully expanded into trials across 16 farms and nurseries in the UAE, Oman and India.

The Year 13 pupils at Dubai International Academy have also filed a joint provisional patent application and are preparing to approach Dubai authorities to scale up their initiative. In an interview with The National, the students explained that the concept originated from a shared passion for science and the potential to repurpose everyday waste. "We saw an opportunity there, or a gap between what is currently being used to get rid of that waste versus what it could actually be used for," Adit stated.

Millions of tons of poultry feathers are discarded globally each year. Because they contain a substance resistant to natural degradation, they create significant waste and environmental challenges. The teenagers started by gathering approximately 2kg of feathers from a poultry farm in Sharjah, dedicating hours to prepare them for laboratory testing. Although their families were initially surprised by the concept, they later supported the students by facilitating travel to laboratories and connecting them with mentors.

The pupils sought a method to extract useful materials from feathers without relying on burning or other energy-intensive techniques. "The main idea is that chicken feathers basically have keratin in them, and keratin is a very useful protein, but it's also very hard to break down and extract," Adit explained. After sending cold emails to various academics and universities, they successfully partnered with researchers at the University of Sharjah.

Through rigorous experimentation, the students formulated nine nutrient-rich recipes suitable for use as fertilisers or plant-growth boosters. Their initial laboratory tests commenced during the winter break in December 2025. By February, they had completed three rounds of trials before testing their formulations directly on plants. Early controlled experiments using bok choy and radishes revealed growth measurements roughly 20 to 30 per cent higher than commercial alternatives, though the students emphasize these results are preliminary and require further study.

The team has since transitioned from the laboratory to real-world testing at agricultural sites in the UAE, Oman and India. More than 1,200 farmers have participated in the trials, providing the students with crucial feedback on how the product performs in practical agricultural conditions. "Seeing what is the actual application, what are the requirements to be able to take this further, that is the main thing that we are picking up from farmers," Maanit noted.

Balancing the ambitious project with regular schooling required fitting intense laboratory work around lessons and examinations. The pupils spent much of their winter break traveling to Sharjah, occasionally working in the lab nearly every day. When regional tensions earlier this year restricted their access to the university laboratory, they adapted by relocating part of their testing operations home. "I had some 60 plant pots in my backyard, and we would come there every other week, and we would do experiments on them, collecting our data," Adit recalled.

In April, the pupils filed a joint provisional patent application for their developed processes. They estimate that the raw formula costs under Dh1 per 100ml to produce since the primary material consists of waste. However, they note that packaging, storage, and transportation will increase overall expenses at a commercial scale. Looking ahead, the students plan to pitch their project to Dubai Municipality and pursue further opportunities through the Dubai Farms programme.