**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** UNUSABLE CROPS ARE CONSIDERED WASTE TO BE REMOVED AT THE FARMER'S EXPENSE. REINTRODUCTION OF INSECT DECOMPOSERS INTO AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS CAN ALLEVIATE WASTE REMOVAL COSTS, RAPIDLY GENERATE USABLE PRODUCTS (FERTILIZER), AND LEAD TO NEW REVENUE STREAMS (INSECT BIOMASS). THE BLACK SOLDIER FLY (BSF) IS AN EFFECTIVE DECOMPOSER OF ANY TYPE OF ORGANIC MATTER, AND IS USED WORLDWIDE FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION OF FERTILIZER (FRASS), AND AS FEED FOR LIVESTOCK, AQUACULTURE, AND PETS. HOWEVER, BSF REARING BY THE STANDARD BATCH METHOD (CAREFULLY MEASURED COHORTS OF LARVAE WITH SET QUANTITIES OF WASTE) CURRENTLY REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL HUMAN LABOR, WHICH HINDERS ON- FARM USE. AN ALTERNATIVE STEADY-STATE REARING SYSTEM INVOLVES CONTINUOUS REARING OF BSF IN BIOREACTORS AND IS LESS LABOR INTENSIVE, BUT STILL REQUIRES SOME HUMAN MAINTENANCE. THESE MAINTENANCE TASKS ARE TARGETS FOR INTRODUCING COST-CONSCIOUS SENSING AND AUTOMATION. THE GOAL OF THIS SEED-GRANT PROJECT IS TO ENGINEER, BUILD, AND TEST A PROTOTYPE AUTOMATED STEADY STATE SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR ON-FARM USE. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL THROUGH A PRODUCTIVE AND ESTABLISHED COLLABORATION AMONG TWO ENTOMOLOGISTS, THE INVENTOR OF THE STEADY-STATE SYSTEM, AND AN ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER ENGINEER. BY AUTOMATING ON-FARM BSF REARING, WE WILL EXPAND UTILIZATION OF WASTE IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND ENGINEER NEW PRODUCTS THAT UTILIZE MATERIALS FROM AGRICULTURE. OUR PROJECT ADDRESSES THE AFRI LONG-TERM GOALS TO ENSURE EFFICIENT USE OF ON-FARM RESOURCES AND INCREASE INTEGRATION OF NATURAL BIOLOGICAL CYCLES AND CONTROLS IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS.