Key Takeaways
- The USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have awarded a construction contract to Mortenson Construction for a new facility in Edinburg, Texas.
- The project is a primary element of a 5-prong strategy to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS) and protect U.S. livestock and public health.
- The facility will be the first of its kind on U.S. soil, reducing domestic reliance on international production centers in Panama and Mexico.
- Initial production is expected to reach 100 million sterile flies per week by November 2027, with a long-term goal of 300 million per week.
National Security and the USDA Strategy
The USDA has finalized plans to establish a domestic sterile fly production complex at Moore Air Base. This facility is designed to bolster the department's response capacity against the New World Screwworm, a parasitic pest that was eliminated in the United States in 1966. By producing sterile insects locally, the government aims to create a more resilient safeguard for the American agricultural economy.
Engineering Oversight and the USDA Mission
To ensure the technical success of the biosecure complex, the USACE will provide oversight for the design, engineering, and construction phases. This partnership leverages military engineering expertise to manage the specialized requirements of an irradiation-based sterile insect facility.
“The Army Corps of Engineers is an essential partner in bringing this facility to life and further highlights the Trump Administration’s government-wide effort to fight the New World Screwworm threat,” said USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “This first of its kind facility on U.S. soil will ensure we are not reliant on other countries for sterile flies.”
Scaling Production Capacity Within the USDA
The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) remains the primary method for controlling NWS populations. By releasing sterile males to mate with wild females, the program prevents the hatching of larvae that feed on warm-blooded animals. Currently, the USDA relies on the COPEG facility in Panama and a renovated site in Mexico to supply sterile flies for the region.
“Combining our engineering expertise with USDA‘s mission expertise brings us one step closer to alleviating this biological threat,” stated Lt. Gen. William H. “Butch” Graham, USACE commanding general.
Project Timeline for the Facility
Groundbreaking at the Texas site is scheduled for later this spring. Following initial planning with Mortenson Construction, the facility is projected to meet its first production milestone in late 2027. Once the long-term expansion is complete, the site will triple its output to 300 million flies per week, providing a permanent domestic buffer against invasive biological threats.
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