Federal Grant Award Summary

UC Riverside received a $148,882 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) (CFDA 10.310), awarded May 1, 2026, with a completion date of July 31, 2028. The project will deliver research evaluating black soldier fly frass as a plant immune elicitor to prevent crop diseases in romaine lettuce. The research team will conduct pathogen assays to assess the effectiveness of soil-applied frass in mitigating symptoms of Insect-transmitted Spotted Wilt Virus (INSV) and the soil pathogen Pythium, while measuring plant defense responses and reductions in disease severity. The project will also investigate whether frass application promotes beneficial soil microbe communities that suppress soil pathogens and improve long-term soil health.

In addition to experimental research outputs, the project will deliver educational and outreach products including peer-reviewed publications and stakeholder communications directed to agricultural growers, extension personnel, and researchers. The initiative supports workforce development by providing training opportunities for undergraduate agricultural scientists. These deliverables address AFRI's Plant Health and Production priority area by developing pesticide-reduction strategies for managing economically significant crop diseases while advancing knowledge of sustainable soil management practices.