USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are continuing their longstanding investment in advancing poultry and egg industry research, approving $465,000 in funding for five new research projects at five institutions through the organizations’ Comprehensive Research Program. The boards of directors of USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation approved the grants based on recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC). Comprised of professionals representing diverse segments of the poultry and egg industry, the FRAC evaluates research proposals for scientific merit, industry relevance and potential to deliver meaningful, real-world value.

For more than six decades, research has been a cornerstone of USPOULTRY’s service to the industry. What began in the early 1960s with funding dedicated to poultry disease research has evolved into a comprehensive program supporting research across all aspects of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the program’s inception, USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have reinvested more than $40 million in research, supporting work at more than 50 universities and federal and state research facilities. The newly funded projects will address priority issues facing the poultry and egg industry, supporting research designed to generate practical knowledge, strengthen industry practices and help prepare the industry for emerging challenges.

“Investing in research is an investment in the future of our industry,” said Bill Griffith, Peco Foods, USPOULTRY chair and FRAC member. “The challenges facing poultry and egg production continue to evolve, and it is important that our industry has the science and information needed to respond effectively. By supporting research driven by real industry needs, we can help advance practical solutions that strengthen our industry today while positioning it for continued success in the years ahead.”

The research grants for each institution include:

Reducing Layout Times and Improve Heat Treatment During Windrowing Using a Low-Cost Covered Static Aerated Pile (CSAP) Approach
Auburn University

Repurposing FDA-Approved Animal Drugs to Control Histomonas meleagridis (Blackhead Disease) in Turkeys 
Clemson University

Novel Vaccine-Based Approach for the Control of Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in Poultry Production
University of Georgia

New Generation Clostridium perfringens Vaccine Development
University of Florida

Characterization of Turkey Coronavirus Transmission Routes in the U.S. Turkey Industry
The Ohio State University