Report
Agricultural Research and Innovation
Our position
Agricultural R&D and innovation is among the highest-return climate investments available. In the United States, every dollar invested in public agricultural research returns an estimated twenty dollars in benefits to society. Overall, R&D and innovation drive productivity growth, which has lowered food prices, spared land, and cut food’s carbon intensity—the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product. And yet, public investment in agricultural research has been declining, in real terms, for decades. Reversing that decline—by doubling public agricultural R&D funding—is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase yields, spare lands, and keep food affordable.
Questions
Why is agricultural research important?
Agricultural research helps farmers produce more food with fewer resources and environmental impacts. Advances in crop breeding, biotechnology, fertilizers, machinery, and farming practices can increase yields, improve resilience to weather, pests, and disease, reduce land use, and keep food abundant and affordable.
What is agtech?
Agricultural technology, or agtech, includes tools and innovations that improve how food is produced. Agtech can help farmers increase productivity while using land, water, fertilizer, and other resources more efficiently.
What are examples of agricultural technology?
Examples include biotechnology, precision agriculture, robotics, sensors, artificial intelligence, and advanced irrigation.
Why should the government fund agricultural R&D when the private sector already does?
Companies tend to focus on R&D that can lead to profitable products and technologies. Public R&D complements that investment by supporting foundational and long-term research that is the basis for future breakthroughs, as well as research whose benefits are widely shared and difficult for any one company to capture.
Start here
Three pieces the team says to read first
Agricultural Research and Innovation work
Research, analysis and everything we have put on the record: comments, testimony, statements, letters and endorsements.
Showing 13–18 of 34
Sort Newest Oldest
Report
Foregone Benefits of Gene Editing in the European Union
A new report by the Breakthrough Institute and the Alliance for Science
· Emma Kovak, Mark Lynas, Dan Blaustein-Rejto
Analysis
Technology, Not Climate, Will Determine the Future of our Food System
That’s why R&D funding is more urgent than ever
· Patrick Brown, Emma Kovak, Alex Smith
Analysis
Commercializing Genetically Modified Crops in Africa
The benefits would be massive, but new biosafety laws are needed
· Ian Peter Busuulwa, Emma Kovak, Guido Núñez-Mujica
Analysis
What is the Specialty Crop Research Initiative?
SCRI Explained: Research and Education to Improve Specialty Crop Production Systems
· Emily Bass
Analysis
Want to Make EU Agriculture More Sustainable?
Like it or not, allowing gene editing could be key
· Emma Kovak
Analysis
We Can’t Manage Cattle Methane Without Better Measurements
Addressing enteric methane emissions requires more research and researchers
· Dan Blaustein-Rejto, Chris Gambino
13–18 of 34
Who to talk to
Emily Bass
Director, Federal Policy, Food and Agriculture Email
Latest: Letter from the Breakthrough Institute, Others Warns Against Agriculture Cuts as Congress Kicks Off FY26 Budget Process
