A recent report from Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Farm Journal Foundation is advocating for stronger support for agricultural research and development in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. The authors argue that this investment is crucial for driving both domestic and international growth and ensuring food security.

Katie Lee, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Farm Journal Foundation, highlights the significance of conducting research to increase access to improved technologies for small-scale farmers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), research and innovation have been the main drivers of economic growth in U.S. agriculture over the past few decades. The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that every $1 invested in public agricultural research and development from 1900 to 2011 generated $20 in economic benefits.

The ERS also notes that funding for agricultural research and development has been on the decline since 1995. Peggy Yih, the Managing Director of the Center on Global Food and Agriculture at the Chicago Council, attributes this decline to the prioritization of funding in sectors such as health and energy, as well as a growing disconnect between individuals and food production. Increased support for agricultural research can reverse this downward trend and contribute to economic growth, climate change mitigation, and global food security.

“Funding for agricultural research locks in key resources to help farmers obtain the tools they need to increase productivity, adapt to changing conditions, mitigate rising input costs, find sustainable alternatives, and innovate to feed a growing global population more efficiently,” explains Yih. She further emphasizes that these investments can prevent food shortages and famines worldwide and reduce U.S. spending on humanitarian food aid.

Increased investment in public research is necessary to complement private sector innovation. While the private sector plays a crucial role in increasing productivity for large commodity crops, smaller and more specialized crops that enhance nutrition and diversify diets often receive insufficient funding. Lee states that research areas benefiting society as a whole but lacking clear profit potential and ties to markets are often overlooked. This includes research related to the environment, animal health, food safety, as well as crops grown by smallholder farmers and supply chains in the developing world.

The Farm Bill, authorized approximately every five years, governs agricultural and food programs in the United States. The 2023 Farm Bill presents an opportunity to scale up funding for public agriculture and ensure farmers have the necessary resources and tools to enhance productivity.

Recommendations for Congress to support agricultural innovation in the 2023 Farm Bill include a direct increase in agricultural research funding for the four USDA research and statistical agencies, as well as the reauthorization of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA). FFAR and AgARDA are initiatives established in previous Farm Bills that aim to improve agricultural research through public-private partnerships and agencies.

Increased funding for public research offers benefits across the entire food system, supporting the well-being of both farmers and consumers. When agriculture improves, all aspects of the food system improve, and farmers equipped with tools and technologies can continue to provide for their families and maintain decent livelihoods in both good and bad years.