Systems for Rearing Insects and Method for Operating an Insect Rearing System

A system for rearing insects, comprising:

• a plurality of crates for storing insects to be reared,
• at least one room for storing the plurality of crates,
• at least one swap area provided in the at least one room, wherein the at least one swap area is configured to temporarily store the plurality of crates during a cleaning operation within the at least one room,
• a dosing station for filling the plurality of crates with insects,
• an automated central harvesting unit comprising a harvesting station for unloading the insects from the plurality of crates for subsequent processing of the insects and/or a plurality of further processing stations,
• a crate collection system for transferring the plurality of crates between the at least one room and the central harvesting unit comprising:
• a plurality of crate collection devices for at least collecting the plurality of crates in or from the at least one room, and
• a connection for connecting the at least one room and the central harvesting unit, wherein the plurality of crates are used in a continuous loop in the system, and wherein the crate collection system is configured to facilitate return of the plurality of crates to their original location within the at least one room after the cleaning operation, and
• wherein the central harvesting unit comprises a bypass line configured to selectively route an individual crate past a processing station while retaining the crate within the central harvesting unit for continued processing by at least one additional processing station.