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The US National Poultry Research Center is:
Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center
Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory
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UNIT MISSION STATEMENTS
The U.S. National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) is located in Athens, Georgia, and has two research laboratories. The Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center has five research units, and the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory has two research units. USNPRC scientists are international experts on food safety and avian health.
Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit
The mission of the Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit is to identify new methods that will reduce the contamination of processed poultry meat by harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses in humans. Research conducted by unit scientists will result in fewer of these bacteria in commercial poultry processing facilities and in a decreasing number of foodborne illnesses associated with poultry consumption.
Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit
The mission of the Egg and Poultry Production Research Unit is to protect public health and the marketability of eggs and poultry products by developing improved poultry flock production practices and egg processing technologies to prevent the transmission of disease-causing microorganisms to consumers. Among the specific objectives of this research are determining how microbial pathogens infect poultry and cause contamination of edible products, understanding how environmental conditions and poultry production practices influence the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of food-transmissible pathogens, developing effective methods for preventing infection of poultry by these pathogens and for testing to detect infected flocks and contaminated eggs, and improving egg processing practices to reduce microbial contamination while enhancing egg quality.
Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research Unit
The mission of the Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit is to provide solutions to the adverse effects of fungal toxins that increase the susceptibility of poultry to food-safety pathogens and reduce poultry quality; this is accomplished by understanding in-field mycotoxin contamination of corn and other poultry feed commodities, as well as post-harvest sources of contamination, that compromise the safety of feed.
Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit
The mission of the Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit is to develop strategies and technologies to improve the quality and safety attributes of various agricultural commodities including poultry meat and eggs, nuts, grain, seed, and feed. This is accomplished through research to: 1) determine the physical, chemical, and biological properties that influence quality and safety, 2) develop novel technologies to measure quality and safety, and 3) develop postharvest methods to improve quality and safety.
