** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND HEAT STRESS, EXACERBATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, ARE TWO SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FACING THE $34.68B US EGG INDUSTRY. HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) OUTBREAKS IN THE U.S. IN 2014-2015 AND 2022 RESULTED IN LOSSES OF 57M AND 43M BIRDS, RESPECTIVELY. THE MANDATORY CONVERSION OF 66% HEN INVENTORY FROM CONVENTIONAL CAGED TO CAGE-FREE HOUSING BY 2026 WORSENS THE ABOVE CHALLENGES. ADVISED BY A BOARD OF EGG SUPPLY-CHAIN STAKEHOLDERS, THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, WITH EXPERTISE IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES FOR POULTRY HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE, AIMS TO DEVELOP HOLISTIC INTERVENTIONS TO ABATE DISEASES AND HEAT-STRESS IN CAGE-FREE EGG HOUSING. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO: (1) ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS TO ASSESS CHALLENGES AND NEEDS IN CAGE-FREE EGG PRODUCTION; (2) DEVELOP HOLISTIC INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE BIRD PERFORMANCE AND RESISTANCE TO DISEASES; (3) DEVELOP INNOVATIVE VENTILATION TO ABATE HEAT STRESS AND DISEASE TRANSMISSION; AND (4) EQUIP EGG FARMERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS DEVELOPED AND EMPOWER FUTURE WORKFORCE VIA MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION. THE PROJECT OUTCOMES INCLUDE (1) NEW KNOWLEDGE OF THE MICROBIOME IN CAGE-FREE HOUSING AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE HEN HEALTH, IMMUNITY, AND PERFORMANCE; (2) NEW VENTILATION TO ABATE HEAT STRESS AND DISEASE TRANSMISSION; (3) TRANSLATIONAL EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO ENABLE FARMERS TO PROTECT HEN HEALTH; AND (4) MULTIDISCIPLINARY CURRICULA FOR FUTURE WORKFORCE. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE FIRST TWO PROGRAM AREA PRIORITIES OF THE USDA AFRI IDEAS GRANT PROGRAM: PRECISION ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYNERGIES OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION. IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE EGG PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.