Groundbreaking Ceremony

USDA and USACE Break Ground on New Sterile Fly Production Facility in Texas

Securing Domestic Capacity to Combat New World Screwworm (NWS)

On April 17, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and LTG William H. “Butch” Graham of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) led the groundbreaking for a new $750 million sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. This project is a central component of a strategy to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS), establishing domestic production to protect U.S. livestock, wildlife, and public health.

Strategic Goals and Domestic Security

The facility marks a major investment in safeguarding America’s livestock industry and stabilizing rural economies. Key strategic drivers include:

• Domestic Self-Reliance: Moving NWS sterile fly production into American hands to eliminate reliance on foreign sources.
• Engineering Excellence: USACE is providing design, construction management, and biosecurity oversight for the critical infrastructure.
• Supply Chain Resilience: Protecting the food supply chain from a pest that threatens the health of national herds.
• Proven Technique: Utilizing Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), where irradiated sterile males mate with females to prevent eggs from hatching.

Timeline and Production Capacity

The project follows an aggressive schedule to expand national capacity quickly:

• November 2027: Target for initial operational capability at 100 million sterile flies per week.
• Full Scale: Subsequent expansion to reach a total of 300 million sterile flies per week.
• Global Network: The facility will complement the existing 100 million/week production at the Panama-based COPEG facility and a modernized facility in Mexico expected by summer 2026.

USDA & U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Moore Air Base, Edinburg, TX | April 2026 | Screwworm.gov