It was a treasure for the Incas, the cause of a war, and once a backbone of Peru’s economy. Now as the world hungers for sustainable resources, bird excrement is once again as prized as gold.

Handful of islands off the nation’s Pacific coast are literally dripping in tons and tons of one of its most historic treasures: guano.

Here millions of birds, fed by anchovy-rich waters, poop around-the-clock, discharging a dirty, potent, fishy cocktail of phosphates and nitrates.

Nutrient-rich bird excrement, guano, sells for about 250 US dollars a ton.

read more here