USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved more than $570,000 in funding for seven new research grants at institutions across the country through the Comprehensive Research Program. The funding was authorized by the boards of both organizations following recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC), a group of industry experts who evaluate proposals based on their potential to deliver meaningful impact. Representing a wide range of scientific disciplines and industry sectors, the FRAC plays a critical role in ensuring research investments address the most relevant challenges and opportunities facing poultry and egg production.

USPOULTRY’s investment in research began in the early 1960s with a focus on poultry disease and has since grown into a dynamic, industry-wide program supporting every stage of production and processing. Over the decades, more than $39 million – equivalent to $68 million in today’s dollars - has been reinvested into the industry through research grants, benefiting more than 50 universities along with federal and state research facilities.

“Through USPOULTRY and its Foundation, we are investing in the future of the poultry industry by advancing innovation, supporting cutting-edge technologies and, most importantly, strengthening our people. From researchers and leaders to the people working every day across operations, we are committed to enhancing safety, opportunity and long-term success for the workforce that keeps our industry moving forward,” said Bill Griffith, Peco Foods, and USPOULTRY chair.

The research grants for each institution include:

Development of an Open-Source Online Platform for Forecasting Risks of Poultry Avian Influenza
University of Georgia

AI-Driven Robotic Solutions for Labor Shortages in Poultry Processing
Texas A&M University

CuR PATH: A Rapid On-Farm Detection Kit for Highly Pathogenic Food-Borne Pathogens
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service

Collaborative Epidemiologic Investigation of Clostridial Dermatitis in the U.S. Turkey Industry
University of Minnesota

Evaluating Potential Public Health Impacts of Level-Based Salmonella Performance Standards for Poultry Products
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Role of Increasing Levels of Magnesium and Its Interaction with Calcium on Eggshell Quality in Aged Hy-Line W-36 Laying Hens 
Mississippi State University

Optimizing Peracetic Acid Interventions in Poultry Processing: Balancing Dosage, pH, Food Safety and Wastewater Sustainability 
Georgia Tech Research Institute