The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is doubling down on its fight against screwworm, a type of blowfly that targets mammals and poses a significant threat to the cattle industry. On Tuesday, the USDA announced new approaches to combat screwworm, including using AI drones to monitor wildlife and enlisting the help of 40 research projects that would be funded via a grant program launched earlier this year.

Grant Program and Research Projects

The USDA has awarded $105 million to researchers for 40 projects to develop solutions to combat screwworm. These solutions include developing male flies with hyper-active sex drives, enhancing or developing methods to lure and trap flies, and using insect-killing fungi to control screwworm. The agency is also exploring the use of drones to monitor screwworm flies and dogs to detect and locate screwworm.

The USDA expects to provide more details on its strategies to eradicate screwworm, including a potential partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy AI-controlled drones. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that the new approaches will help the agency stay ahead of the pest and protect the food supply and economy.

Impact on Texas

In Texas, screwworm was initially found in cattle and other agricultural animals. The wildlife landscape in Texas has changed since the last infestation, driven partly by the captive wildlife industry and the growth of the wild pig population. The USDA is working to combat screwworm in Texas, and the state is home to several of the research projects funded by the grant program, including projects at Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.