Researchers at Texas A&M University and Columbia University are testing far-ultraviolet (far-UVC) light inside commercial poultry facilities to curb the airborne transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Backed by a $2 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the multiyear project aims to protect flocks from outbreaks that threaten agricultural stability and consumer egg prices.
The Threat of Avian Influenza to Commercial Poultry
Following widespread HPAI outbreaks that began around 2022 and saw a severe resurgence in early 2025, farmers across the United States were forced to cull tens of millions of birds to contain the virus. According to Morgan Farnell, avian microbiology and immunology professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader, the ongoing presence of avian influenza in wildlife means the disease remains a persistent threat rather than an endemic issue. When poultry production plummeted during peak infection periods, egg prices surged nationwide, driving the USDA to allocate $100 million in grants toward vaccines, treatments, and biosecurity innovations.
“Our studies show that far-UVC light offers a safe and practical way to inactivate any type of virus in the air, reducing the chance of transmission,” said David Brenner, director of the Columbia University Center for Radiological Research.
How Far-UVC Technology Operates in Occupied Spaces
Traditional germicidal ultraviolet light has long been used to decontaminate empty rooms by damaging microbial DNA, but it poses safety hazards to living tissue. Far-UVC light differs because its shorter wavelength cannot penetrate deeply enough to damage human or animal skin and eyes. This characteristic allows the technology to operate continuously in spaces occupied by people and livestock.
Earlier foundational tests conducted by researchers at the Columbia University Center for Radiological Research and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital established that far-UVC light effectively neutralizes pathogens in controlled environments. David Welch of Columbia University noted that testing the technology on an active farm introduces real-world variables, such as dust and humidity, that laboratory isolators cannot replicate.
Testing Protocols at Texas A&M Facilities
Farnell and Ziteng “Tim” Xu, assistant professor of smart technologies in poultry production at Texas A&M, will oversee the trials inside commercial-density poultry houses.
The team will use air-sampling equipment to measure indicator organisms—including aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus—before and after exposing the environment to far-UVC light. These baseline readings will help researchers evaluate the technology’s effectiveness against actual avian influenza strains.
Engineering Challenges and Animal Welfare Monitoring
Deploying ultraviolet equipment inside dusty agricultural buildings presents distinct engineering hurdles. Dust can absorb or scatter light before it reaches the birds, prompting Xu’s engineering team to measure exact radiation levels across the facility.
Additionally, researchers will use artificial intelligence-assisted camera tracking to monitor the chickens’ behavior, circadian rhythms, and growth performance to ensure the light causes no adverse physiological effects. Xu is also designing an integrated disinfection system that combines far-UVC air treatment with UVC-enabled positive-pressure ventilation and robotic floor-disinfection modules. If trials prove successful, the research team plans to expand the application of far-UVC technology into swine and dairy operations.
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