TUCKER, GA. –– Steven Ricke, PhD, director of the Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery (MSABD) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recently received the 2023 Poultry Science Association Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award from the US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).

According to the trade association, the award recognizes distinctive, outstanding contributions by an industry leader. As part of the award USPOULTRY also makes a contribution to the Poultry Science Association (PSA) Foundation.

“USPOULTRY is pleased to honor industry leaders exemplified by Dr. Steven Ricke,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY. “He has dedicated many years of his career to conducting applied research to help find solutions to poultry and egg industry issues. We believe that Dr. Ricke’s efforts have truly helped to grow and improve our industry.”

In his career, Ricke has focused on foodborne Salmonella and Campylobacter ecology from the broiler farm to the processing plant and mechanisms employed by pathogens to survive these highly variable poultry industry environments.

During the research, his group used preharvest and postharvest prevention strategies that better limit the survival of these pathogens during poultry and egg production.

Ricke is now working on the microbiome and metabolomic approaches to develop an understanding of the interaction of gut microbiota with pathogens to evaluate feed additives. At the same time, he will develop the concept of microbiome mapping for broiler processing.

“The overall outcomes of his research efforts are contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the microbial ecological linkages between live bird production and poultry processing,” USPOULTRY stated in its announcement. “His program has generated more than 400 peer reviewed research publications, and he has given 200-plus invited talks.”

Ricke took on his current role at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020. Before that, he worked as the endowed chair in Food Safety and director for the Center for Food Safety at the University of Arkansas starting in 2005. His prior role was with the poultry science department at Texas A&M University in 1992.

Ricke received his BS and MS from the University of Illinois, and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After earning those degrees became a USDA-ARS post doctorate in the microbiology department at North Carolina State University.