RELEASE: Letter from Breakthrough Institute and Partners Ask Congress to Grow Research Investments in Next Farm Bill
Signed by 60+ agricultural organizations, environmental nonprofits, universities, and scientific associations, the letter calls on Congress to build on recent Farm Bill momentum and fund critical research efforts at USDA
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Washington, DC — June 12, 2024 — Today, the Breakthrough Institute, joined by 60 scientific societies, ag-tech startups, environmental nonprofits, public universities, and research organizations, sent a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, prompting them to make robust investments in public agricultural research in the next Farm Bill. The signers commend Congress on their efforts to date to craft a Farm Bill that invests in research and innovation, citing ongoing droughts, flooding, and pest and disease pressures as reasons for urgency.
The letter acknowledges the proposed investments for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), and the Sustainable Research and Education (SARE) program included in both the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 passed out of the House Agriculture Committee and the outline for the Senate Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024. These historically oversubscribed programs provide necessary funding for research institutions, colleges and universities, and even directly to farmers and ranchers.
The letter goes on to support the Senate’s proposed investments in USDA Climate Hubs and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and urge their inclusion in the final Farm Bill agreement.
The letter emphasizes, “If the U.S. is to maintain a productive, profitable, and resilient agricultural sector, farmers and ranchers must have access to the best tools, data, and technologies. This will require the U.S. to reaffirm its leadership in funding public agricultural research.” It urges Congress to “support the U.S. agricultural enterprise by reauthorizing and increasing funding for the above agricultural research programs in the next Farm Bill.”
Click here to read the full letter.
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For Media Inquiries:
Emily Bass
Associate Director of Federal Policy, Food and Agriculture
emily@thebreakthrough.org
