USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on March 9 a construction contract with Mortenson Construction to build a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, TX.
“Combining our engineering expertise with USDA’s mission expertise brings us one step closer to alleviating this biological threat,” said Lt. Gen. William H. “Butch” Graham, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commanding general.
At the facility, New World screwworm (NWS) flies will be raised and sterilized before being released into target areas. Female NWS flies mate only once in their lives, and if they mate with a sterile male, they will lay unfertilized eggs that do not hatch.
USDA is currently producing about 100 million sterile flies per week at a facility in Panama. The new facility is expected to begin producing flies this summer. By November 2027, the facility is expected to reach its goal of 100 million sterile flies per week, with a long-term goal of 300 million sterile flies per week.
