Key Takeaways:
- MOVA Technologies was selected for up to $1.3 million in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Pay-for-Outcomes Program.
- The project features the FEATHER™ System, designed to reduce toxic ammonia emissions in poultry barns.
- The initiative aims to prevent 47,100 pounds of nitrogen from entering the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- MOVA was one of only 9 projects chosen from 30 applicants, with eligibility for a share of $19 million in total funding.
- Field trials of the system will begin in summer 2025, with regional implementation targeted for 2026.
MOVA Technologies Selected for DEQ Grant to Combat Nitrogen Pollution
MOVA Technologies has been awarded up to $1.3 million through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Pay-for-Outcomes Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction Grant Program, a competitive initiative funding projects that deliver quantifiable nutrient pollution reductions. Among 30 applicants, MOVA was one of just 9 selected for the program, which collectively allocates up to $19 million to support impactful environmental solutions.
The DEQ’s Pay-for-Outcomes Program evaluates proposals based on projected environmental benefit, technical viability, and practical implementation, with a particular focus on cost-effective approaches to reducing nitrogen runoff into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
“Recognition from DEQ reinforces the importance of practical, market-driven solutions to environmental challenges,” said John Schott, CEO of MOVA Technologies. “By removing ammonia at the source, we’re not just protecting water quality—we’re creating healthier barns and stronger business outcomes for poultry producers.”
MOVA Technologies’ FEATHER™ System Targets Ammonia at the Source
At the center of MOVA Technologies’ grant-supported project is the FEATHER™ System, a next-generation air purification technology that captures and neutralizes ammonia emissions inside poultry barns. The system is engineered to deliver two primary outcomes:
- Improved bird health and barn conditions by enhancing indoor air quality.
- Reduction of ammonia emissions, a major contributor of nitrogen pollution in local waterways.
According to DEQ estimates, MOVA’s implementation will prevent 47,100 pounds of nitrogen from entering the Chesapeake Bay watershed, contributing to the state’s larger pollution reduction goals.
“By improving indoor air quality, we see better bird performance and lower heating costs,” added Luke Allison, Chief Advancement Officer at MOVA Technologies. “That translates to higher farm profits and a reduced environmental footprint for the industry.”
Field Trials Set to Begin in 2025
Following earlier support from a USDA grant, MOVA Technologies will begin pilot testing the FEATHER™ System this summer at a commercial poultry operation in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. These trials will generate real-world performance data, which will inform a broader rollout plan for 2026.
The long-term goal is to establish multi-farm implementation agreements across the region, scaling up the impact of the technology on both environmental and economic outcomes.
Cost-Effective Environmental Innovation
According to DEQ Director Michael Rolband, the Pay-for-Outcomes Program helps advance scalable environmental technologies at minimal cost to the state. “These projects push the envelope of what’s possible for the Bay—and at the lowest possible cost for nonpoint source projects,” said Rolband.
The nine funded initiatives under the current program cycle are projected to eliminate approximately 580,000 pounds of nitrogen from the Chesapeake Bay watershed, at an average cost of $32.73 per pound—highlighting the value of targeted, performance-based investment.
