USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are inviting colleges, universities and research facilities to submit research pre-proposals by May 1 for the 2026 Fall Research competition. The program supports innovative research aimed at addressing key challenges across poultry and egg production, from animal welfare and food safety to environmental management and employee health.

Through its long-standing research program, USPOULTRY partners with leading universities and research institutions to generate practical solutions that strengthen the poultry industry and support safe, efficient food production.

Pre-proposals consist of a one-page synopsis submitted through the online submission form. The Foundation Research Advisory Committee will review submissions and invite full proposals that align with the industry’s current research priorities.

The current priority research list includes goals and objectives across several areas of poultry production and processing, including: animal welfare, breeder management (turkeys and broilers), meat bird management, commercial egg production, diseases, environmental management, food safety, hatchery management, nutrition, processing and employee safety health.

A complete list of research priorities, along with submission instructions and deadlines, is available on the USPOULTRY website.

Researchers are also encouraged to submit proposals addressing emerging issues outside the priority list if they demonstrate a clear industry need. Funding decisions for selected projects will be announced in late September.

USPOULTRY and its Foundation invest more than $1 million annually in research supporting every phase of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the program began, more than $38 million — equivalent to $67 million in today’s dollars — has been reinvested into the industry through research grants awarded to more than 50 universities and federal and state research facilities.