USDA Launches New World Screwworm Grand Challenge to Strengthen Prevention and Response
USDA/APHIS image
With the announcement of the New World Screwworm Grand Challenge, USDA is taking a major step toward strengthening its preparedness and response to one of the most serious threats to animal health. Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins shared details of the new initiative, which aims to expand tools, technologies, and partnerships to prevent the spread and impact of screwworms.
Hoskins explained that USDA is committing significant resources to the effort. “Under the Grand Challenge, USDA is making up to 100 million dollars to basically review, vet, and hopefully operationalize technologies and new innovations that are going to build our toolbox in preventing the spread, the impact of the screwworm.” The funding is intended to accelerate promising ideas from concept to real-world application.
A key focus of the initiative is enhancing sterile fly production, a cornerstone of screwworm control efforts. “The Secretary’s charge is to help our partners clarify and enhance sterile fly production practices,” Hoskins said. He emphasized that USDA is actively seeking new approaches that can improve efficiency and effectiveness in this critical area.
Innovation beyond sterile fly production is also central to the Grand Challenge. “If there’s ideas or concepts or technologies that are going to help us do that, ideas or innovations to develop new traps or lures, that’s a critical part of the work we’re doing currently.” Improved detection and monitoring tools could play an important role in early identification and containment.
Animal health treatments are another priority. “And then always just are there opportunities for increasing therapeutics or treatments, anything to help prevent or control the impact of screwworms on individual animals.” These advancements could help reduce losses and improve animal welfare in the event of an outbreak.
Hoskins noted that USDA is casting a wide net for solutions. “And then across the board, any other ideas or innovations that are going to help bolster our preparedness and response, those are the ideas we’re looking for.”
USDA is now calling on industry partners, researchers, and innovators to participate. “We’re asking our partners and potential participants to give us those ideas on or before February 23rd of this year.” The Grand Challenge represents a collaborative effort to ensure the U.S. remains prepared to prevent and respond to the threat of New World Screwworm.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.