Strengthening America's agricultural research backbone is critical to addressing climate change, food security, and global competitiveness.
In a Maryland laboratory, an AI-powered system scans wheat plants for signs of a devastating fungal disease, cutting screening costs by 80% and helping farmers access resistant varieties faster. This innovation represents just one of the thousands of solutions emerging from USDA's Agricultural Research Service labs nationwide—solutions that could become rarer without increased support 3 .
Imagine a world where crops can withstand devastating blights, where livestock emit less methane, and where soil captures more carbon than it releases. This isn't science fiction—it's the everyday work of scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), who are facing unprecedented challenges with increasingly constrained resources.
As climate change accelerates and global food demands grow, a coalition of scientists, farmers, and industry groups is raising an urgent call: strengthen America's agricultural research backbone now, or risk falling behind in the global race for food security.
The Agricultural Research Service operates as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency, conducting studies that form the foundation of modern farming 4 . Established in 1953, ARS now employs more than 7,000 scientists and support staff across 90+ research locations in 42 states and territories 4 6 7 .
These researchers are organized into national programs addressing four critical areas: Nutrition, Food Safety, and Quality; Animal Production and Protection; Crop Production and Protection; and Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems 4 .
What makes ARS unique is its capacity for long-term, high-risk research that universities and private companies often can't sustain. While others operate on short grant cycles, ARS scientists can dive deep into complex agricultural problems, pursuing solutions that may take decades to develop but yield transformative results 4 .
The economic case for robust agricultural research is compelling. Every dollar invested in public agricultural R&D has generated $20 in returns—a staggering return on investment that benefits both farmers and consumers through lower costs and increased productivity 7 .
AI-driven wheat disease detection that reduces screening costs by approximately 80% 3
Improved nutrition guidelines that have helped school districts reduce meal program costs by about 15% while improving child health outcomes 3
Tomato gene inhibition that keeps tomatoes firmer longer, reducing food waste 1
Feed additive research that could significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle 4
Despite these successes, America's agricultural research enterprise faces multiple threats that have prompted urgent calls for change.
While recent appropriations have provided steady increases for ARS research staff and expenses, funding for critical infrastructure—laboratories, equipment, and facilities—has fluctuated dramatically 4 . The ARS Buildings and Facilities account plummeted from $381 million in 2019 to just $36 million in 2021 4 . This volatility has created approximately $1 billion in deferred maintenance across ARS facilities, jeopardizing research quality and causing delays 4 .
Average funding insufficient to address $1B maintenance backlog
USDA has experienced significant staff reductions, with more than 15,000 employees departing the agency recently through a combination of firings and resignation programs 7 . The impact on research has been particularly severe—98 out of 167 food safety scientists have recently resigned according to union groups representing USDA employees 7 .
"The loss of experienced staff not only jeopardizes the continuity of ongoing agricultural R&D, but it also hobbles USDA's capacity to pivot swiftly in crises like disease outbreaks, market shocks, or climate emergencies." 7
While U.S. agricultural research spending has stagnated, other nations have accelerated their investments. China already invests more heavily in agricultural R&D than the U.S., and America's agricultural productivity growth has stalled compared to robust annual productivity growth rates of 1.7% in countries like India 7 .
Public investment in U.S. agricultural research from USDA and other sources declined significantly from $7.64 billion in 2002 to $5.16 billion in 2019—a nearly 30% reduction after adjusting for inflation 7 .
2002: $7.64 billion
2019: $5.16 billion (adjusted for inflation)
To understand what's at stake in the push to strengthen ARS, consider a specific research initiative launched in early 2025: the Food Systems Research Unit in Burlington, Vermont 5 . This project exemplifies the comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that ARS can bring to complex agricultural challenges.
The Burlington team is investigating how to improve the "environmental, economic, and social sustainability of plant-based food systems in the Northeast states in a manner that enhances nutrition and public health." 5 Rather than focusing on a single crop or practice, they're examining the entire food system—from soil health to consumer diets—acknowledging that these elements are interconnected.
The research combines multiple scientific approaches 5 :
On-farm sampling of soil health paired with surveys of farmer attitudes and beliefs
Assessing regional food production capacity under historical and future scenarios
Interviews with farmers, processors, distributors, and consumers
Compiling and analyzing pre-existing data sets to identify patterns and relationships
One particularly innovative aspect is the project's focus on knowledge co-production with stakeholders—actively involving farmers and food system participants in shaping the research questions and interpreting results 5 . This approach ensures that the science remains grounded in real-world needs and constraints.
| Objective | Primary Methods | Expected Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Characterize current and potential capacity of regional food systems | Farmer surveys, soil sampling, data analysis | Baseline assessment of sustainability and nutritional capacity |
| Identify transformation pathways for changing climates, diets, and markets | Case studies, interviews, hydrological modeling | Climate adaptation strategies for farmers |
| Enhance long-term sustainability through knowledge co-production | Stakeholder collaboration, model comparison | Improved research methods for food systems science |
Modern agricultural research relies on sophisticated tools and resources. Here are key components from the ARS toolkit that researchers are fighting to maintain and expand:
| Research Resource | Function | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | Safeguards genetic diversity of crops and livestock | Provides critical genetic material for breeding crops that withstand emerging pests, diseases, and environmental stresses 3 |
| Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network | 18 research sites collecting long-term environmental data | Enables studies of changes in soil carbon, climate impacts, and land use effects that require decades of observation 4 |
| National Agricultural Library | World's largest collection devoted to agriculture | Preserves and provides access to centuries of agricultural knowledge 3 |
| AI and Computer Vision Systems | Real-time monitoring and analysis of agricultural systems | Speeds up breeding programs and improves efficiency, as seen in aquaculture and wheat disease detection 1 3 |
| Precision Agriculture Technologies | Optimizes on-farm profitability and sustainability through precise application of inputs | Reduces nutrient losses and improves fertilizer efficiency 4 |
The urgency of strengthening agricultural research has sparked unprecedented collaboration. A remarkable coalition of 62 organizations—spanning academia, agriculture, and food stakeholder groups—has come together to advocate for increased ARS funding 3 .
In March 2025, this coalition sent a letter to Congressional appropriators requesting $1.877 billion for ARS salaries and expenses in Fiscal Year 2026, representing a 5% increase over FY2025 levels 3 . The signatories included diverse groups ranging from the American Farm Bureau Federation to environmental organizations, demonstrating widespread recognition of agricultural research's critical role.
"Sustained federal investment in food and agricultural research at ARS provides the foundation for a resilient domestic agricultural supply chain and ensures American farmers remain competitive in global markets." 3
The changes being urged for the Agricultural Research Service aren't just about budgets and buildings—they're about maintaining America's capacity to feed itself and the world in an era of unprecedented environmental challenges.
"For the United States to continue conducting cutting-edge research that yields environmental, economic, and social benefits, it is critical that researchers at ARS research units and laboratories have modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment." 4
The seeds of tomorrow's agricultural solutions are being planted in today's research laboratories. Whether those seeds will sprout into innovations that help farmers adapt to climate change, reduce agriculture's environmental footprint, and ensure food security for all may depend on the changes we urge—and support—today.
The broad coalition backing strengthened agricultural research sends a clear message: in the face of climate change, global competition, and growing food demands, America cannot afford to neglect the science that feeds the world.