Integrated Risk and Biosecurity Optimization in Poultry Production: A Lean and Credit-Risk Approach to Strengthen U.S. Agricultural Resilience

Amidst the increasing pressures and escalating biological, operational, and financial threats, the poultry industry of the United States, it is necessary to rethink strategies and embrace an integrated approach to risk management. The main thrust of this paper is the proposition of a novel framework that combines biosecurity, Lean management principles, and credit risk assessment to strengthen agricultural resilience. The study highlights existing gaps in the use of financial risk models, operational efficiency tools, and disease preventive protocols by drawing on an extensive analysis of academic research, government publications, and industry case studies. Undeniably, each domain has advanced independently in scope and sophistication. But that independence creates conflicting practices and missed synergies. For example, cost-saving Lean strategies may inadvertently compromise biosecurity standards, while traditional credit models frequently overlook operational and health-related risk indicators. By synthesizing findings across these disciplines, the study argues for a systems-level approach in which biosecurity compliance and Lean maturity are integrated into creditworthiness assessments and policy frameworks. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for producers, policymakers, and researchers to support a holistic and scalable model of resilience in poultry production systems.