The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing funding for 40 breakthrough projects to bolster the nation’s defenses against New World screwworm (NWS). These innovative proposals, which will receive a combined total of about $105 million, promise to sharpen detection, accelerate control and eradication tools, and strengthen rapid-response capabilities.
What is the USDA NWS Grand Challenge?
The NWS Grand Challenge is a competitive funding initiative launched on Jan. 21, 2026, by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. It is part of a five-pronged strategy to build long-term resilience against the New World screwworm. Out of 226 applications, the USDA selected 40 high-impact projects designed to revolutionize how the U.S. detects and eradicates this parasitic pest.
How is the $105 Million Being Used?
The USDA has identified four core priorities for these breakthrough projects:
- Modernizing Sterile Fly Production: Improving the efficiency and capacity of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).
- Advanced Detection Systems: Developing novel traps and lures for early warning.
- New Therapeutics: Advancing treatments to reduce health impacts on livestock and pets.
- Preparedness Tools: Creating repellents, ecological models and wildlife surveillance systems.
Spotlight: Next-Generation Sterilization Technology
In addition to the 40 projects announced, work has already started on two additional USDA-funded projects that are a part of the Grand Challenge:
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research: Evaluating electron beam (eBeam) technology. This provides a non-radioactive alternative to cobalt-60 for sterilizing NWS pupae.
- University of Florida: Testing U.S.-made X-ray irradiators. Researchers are using the secondary screwworm as a surrogate to refine sterilization protocols.
Why This Matters for American Agriculture
“We have beaten this pest before, and by leveraging innovative solutions and advancements in technology, we will beat it again in record time,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
The Grand Challenge ensures that the U.S. is not just responding to the current outbreak but is building a 21st-century defense system to safeguard the food supply and livestock producers.
For more information about NWS, visit screwworm.gov.
