Texas to build $750 million facility in Edinburg to fight screwworm threat and protect nation’s livestock industry
Edinburg, Texas – In a significant step toward protecting the American livestock industry from a growing threat, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins jointly announced a $750 million federal investment to establish a new Domestic Sterile Screwworm Production Facility in Edinburg, Texas. The facility aims to stop the northward spread of the New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic insect capable of causing severe damage to livestock and threatening the state’s—and the nation’s—agricultural economy.
A Growing Threat to Agriculture
The New World screwworm poses a grave danger to the livestock sector. The parasitic larvae invade open wounds on animals and feed on living tissue, often leading to serious infections, loss of productivity, and in severe cases, death. As of now, the United States relies entirely on sterile fly shipments from Panama to prevent and respond to potential outbreaks, but with the pest spreading northward, officials say domestic production is critical to national food security.
“Texas agricultural producers feed the world, with our state’s food and agriculture sector supporting over 2 million good-paying jobs and creating over $867 billion in total economic impact,” said Governor Abbott. “All of this is at risk because of the New World screwworm. Working with Secretary Rollins and agricultural community leaders nationwide, we will combat the New World screwworm threat right here in Texas by building a new $750 million facility to breed hundreds of millions of sterile screwworm flies. Together, we will eradicate New World screwworm threat to protect our nation’s food supply and economy.”
New Facility Will Triple Current Sterile Fly Capacity
The new facility in Edinburg will be the first of its kind in the U.S., designed to produce up to 300 million sterile screwworm flies per week—tripling the current output available through the Panama-based facility. The sterilized flies are essential for the “Sterile Insect Technique,” a pest control method that releases sterile males into the wild to suppress the screwworm population by preventing reproduction.
“We have assessed the information on the ground in Mexico and have determined we must construct an additional sterile fly production facility in the U.S. to stop the northward advancement of this terrible pest that is threatening American cattle production,” said Secretary Rollins. “President Trump has made it clear that we must take all necessary steps to protect our country from foreign pests and diseases that threaten our economy and way of life.”
Rollins also emphasized the national security implications of the threat, adding, “If our ranchers are overrun by foreign pests, then we cannot feed ourselves.”
A Collaborative Effort Across State and Federal Levels
The announcement drew wide support from state and national agricultural leaders who attended the press conference, including Congressman Tony Gonzales, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller, and several Texas lawmakers. Also present was Texas A&M University Chancellor Glenn Hegar, underscoring the importance of academic partnerships in combating the pest.
Earlier this year, in June, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission to form a Texas New World Screwworm Response Team. This team was tasked with evaluating and coordinating the state’s strategy to combat the increasing risk posed by the pest’s migration.
With this latest investment, state and federal leaders aim to bolster the U.S. response capabilities and ensure the long-term resilience of the agriculture sector. The Edinburg facility is expected to significantly improve readiness and serve as a model for biological pest control infrastructure moving forward.
The project represents not only a scientific endeavor but also a symbol of commitment to safeguarding one of Texas’ and America’s most vital economic sectors.
