The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have awarded a construction contract to Mortenson Construction to build a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas.
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The project is designed to strengthen the United States’ response to the New World screwworm, an invasive parasitic fly that poses a serious threat to livestock, wildlife and public health.
Officials say the new facility will expand the country’s ability to produce sterile flies domestically, a critical step in preventing the spread of the pest across North America.
The new complex is part of a broader strategy led by Brooke Rollins to combat the New World screwworm threat.
“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 in Mexico,” said Rollins. “The Army Corps is the best in the business, and their engineering expertise and proven track record in delivering complex projects will help ensure we can build a modern, resilient facility that protects American agriculture from invasive pests for decades to come. This first-of-its-kind facility on U.S. soil will ensure we are not reliant on other countries for sterile flies.”
Under the agreement, the Army Corps will oversee the design, engineering and construction of the project while coordinating with USDA officials responsible for pest management programs.
“For more than 250 years, USACE has helped secure America by engineering solutions to our nation’s toughest challenges. We are proud to be partnering with USDA in the construction of the sterile fly facility, a critical investment in our nation’s future agricultural, public and economic health,” said William H. Graham. “Combining our engineering expertise with USDA’s mission expertise brings us one step closer to alleviating this biological threat.”
The facility will use the sterile insect technique, a pest-control method widely used around the world to combat destructive insect populations.
In the process, New World screwworm flies are bred in controlled conditions and sterilized using irradiation before being released into targeted areas. Because female flies only mate once in their lifetime, mating with sterile males results in eggs that do not hatch, gradually reducing the pest population.
This approach has been used successfully for decades and is considered an environmentally responsible alternative to chemical pest control.
The New World screwworm, scientifically known as New World screwworm, is particularly dangerous because its larvae feed on the flesh of warm-blooded animals. If outbreaks occur, the pest can cause severe health problems in livestock and lead to significant economic losses for farmers and ranchers.
The United States eliminated the screwworm in 1966, but maintaining that status requires constant monitoring and international cooperation.
Currently, the USDA produces approximately 100 million sterile flies per week at a facility in Panama operated by the COPEG. Those flies are released in affected areas of Mexico to prevent the pest from moving north toward the United States.
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In addition, the USDA has invested $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of a fruit fly production facility in Metapa. Once operational, the upgraded site is expected to significantly increase sterile fly production capacity.
Mexican authorities expect the facility to begin producing sterile flies by summer 2026, supported by technical assistance from USDA experts.
The new Texas facility will be the first sterile fly production center located in the United States, working alongside operations in Panama and Mexico to strengthen regional pest control efforts.
Officials plan to break ground later this spring following initial planning meetings with Mortenson Construction.
By November 2027, the facility is expected to produce 100 million sterile flies per week during its initial phase. Long-term plans call for expanded production capacity reaching 300 million flies per week, providing additional protection for the U.S. livestock industry.
The facility will play an important role in safeguarding American agriculture while strengthening the country’s ability to respond quickly to emerging pest threats.
Originally reported by USDA in Feed Stuffs.
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