The Egg Industry Center at Iowa State University has released a challenge grant to encourage teams of researchers to work collaboratively to solve air quality challenges created by cage-free laying hen housing.

The Egg Industry Center challenge grant awards up to five teams $5,000 and a chance to submit a research proposal addressing cage-free air quality for up to $100,000. At least one member from the team is required to travel to the 2020 Egg Industry Issues Forum in Des Moines, Iowa, to present their research proposal to the Egg Industry Center’s Advisory Board. Challenge grant pre-proposals are due August 16.

“The Egg Industry Center is delighted to be a catalyst to help the industry find solutions to this important challenge,” said Susan Lamont, interim director of the centre and C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Animal Science at Iowa State University. “We hope to encourage researchers to reach out to the industry and spend time really understanding this issue, then find a viable scientific solution to benefit both animals and workers.”

The Egg Industry Center’s regular grant programme launches a call for proposals each fall. The challenge grant process is intended to enhance the purpose of the larger grant programme by focusing on finding solutions to an issue of critical importance to the industry. The challenge grant process starts earlier, giving researchers additional time to collaborate on the topic and interact with industry to identify promising paths toward useful research results.

The topic for the challenge grant was determined by the EIC Advisory Board. The Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply research project compared conventional cages, enriched colonies and cage-free aviaries, finding that the dust and ammonia levels within the cage-free systems are often undesirable. The demand for cage-free eggs has increased since the study was published, and though egg farmers have tried a variety of cage-free housing designs and equipment, air quality is still a challenge.

The Egg Industry Center grant programme has funded over $1 million in research on various issues since it started its grant programme in 2013. This research has helped advance knowledge on disease transmission, genetic resistance, keel bone abnormalities, new market development and more.

The Egg Industry Center is focused on providing value to the U.S. egg industry through information dissemination and collaborative research efforts. The centre is committed to ensuring that the current and future needs of the egg industry can be answered through sound science-based information. For information about partnering with the Egg Industry Center to support research funding, or to find more information on completed and ongoing research, visit the centre’s website.