A research team at Texas A&M University in the United States is preparing to test an innovative technology that could help poultry farmers tackle one of the industry's most persistent disease threats: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The project will investigate whether far-ultraviolet light, known as far-UVC, can reduce airborne pathogens inside poultry houses without harming birds, workers, or farm operations.
Morgan Farnell, a professor of poultry microbiology and immunology and associate department head in Texas A&M's Department of Poultry Science, said that current HPAI outbreaks continue to pose challenges for the poultry sector. Although avian influenza is not considered endemic in the United States, the virus remains in wildlife populations and continues to threaten commercial poultry production.
Farnell and his colleague, Ziteng Xu, will lead the third and final phase of a long-term research program set to begin in the spring. The research will focus on determining whether far-UVC light can reduce the number of airborne pathogens inside commercial poultry houses under actual production conditions.
Far-UVC technology differs from conventional germicidal ultraviolet systems because it can inactivate viruses and bacteria without penetrating deeply enough to damage human or animal skin and eyes. This characteristic has attracted considerable interest from researchers, who see potential applications in environments occupied by living beings, such as hospitals, schools, restaurants, and farming facilities.
Previous research conducted by researchers from Columbia University and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital examined far-UVC technology in a specialized isolation room. The findings provided a basis for testing in a broader environment resembling commercial scale. Now, researchers from Texas A&M are seeking to determine whether this technology can deliver similar results in poultry housing with bird densities comparable to those at commercial scale.
The trial will be conducted at the university’s poultry farm complex. Researchers will use air-sampling equipment to measure indicator organisms (such as aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus) before and after far-UVC exposure. These measurements will help scientists assess whether the technology can reduce pathogens associated with disease threats, including avian influenza.
Xu’s team will also investigate practical implementation. Dust inside poultry housing can absorb or scatter ultraviolet light, potentially affecting the technology’s performance. Researchers will therefore monitor how much radiation reaches the areas occupied by poultry. An artificial intelligence-based camera system will track poultry movement and behavior, enabling scientists to evaluate effects on poultry welfare, circadian rhythms, and growth performance.
This project is part of a broader effort to develop integrated biosecurity technologies. Xu is designing a system that combines far-UVC air treatment with positive-pressure ventilation and robotic devices for floor disinfection. Researchers will evaluate which components provide effective pathogen control.