Feenstra, Panetta Reintroduce Legislation to Double Funding for Agriculture Research and Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) reintroduced the Advancing Cutting Edge (ACE) Agriculture Act – to double funding from $50 million to $100 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have reintroduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
“Research in agriculture is essential to drive innovations that support our Iowa farmers who feed and fuel our nation,” said Rep. Feenstra. “This legislation supports President Trump’s agenda to advance cutting-edge research that helps our farmers and producers tackle rising input costs, extreme weather, and foreign animal disease, while growing our export markets. I’m proud to lead this effort to strengthen the farm economy and help our producers be successful.”
“Our farmers face an evolving set of challenges and need new, groundbreaking agricultural technologies, approaches, and data systems to continue to survive, provide, and thrive,” said Rep. Panetta. “This bipartisan legislation would double our investment in agricultural innovation and expand our efforts to provide for our nation's food security and climate resiliency. For our farmers to continue to compete, they need to be equipped with cutting-edge tools that will push both American and global agriculture forward.”
“Kansas farmers face new challenges every day — from extreme weather and biological threats to supply chain disruptions and foreign adversaries,” said Sen. Marshall. “That’s why cutting-edge research is more important than ever. Reauthorizing AgARDA will help USDA fund breakthrough innovation that puts our farmers and food supply first and keeps America the world’s agricultural leader.”
“Strengthening American leadership in agricultural research and driving real breakthroughs requires sustained investment,” said Sen. Bennet. “As Colorado’s family farmers and ranchers face persistent drought, higher costs, extreme weather, and increased global competition, the ACE Agriculture Act focuses those investments on practical tools that help producers adapt to a changing climate and agricultural landscape.”
“We are so pleased to have support for agricultural programs that benefit research at Iowa State University as well as our stakeholders,” said Peter Dorhout, Vice President for Research at Iowa State University. “Building on the strength of competitive and capacity funding from USDA, innovative programs like AgARDA can help usher in a new approach to applied research to help us continue our work as a trusted partner for farmers and producers in Iowa and across the nation.”
“The U.S. must regain and maintain leadership in agricultural innovation by developing and deploying cutting-edge agricultural technologies and practices. Reps. Feenstra (R-IA) and Panetta’s (D-CA) and Sens. Marshall (R-KS) and Bennet’s (D-CO) ACE Agriculture Act supports American innovation, ensuring American farmers and ranchers have the most up-to-date tools and technologies needed to increase profitability, participate in bioproduct markets, protect from pests and disease, and promote soil health, all while reducing emissions,” said ClearPath Action CEO, Jeremy Harrell.
“By reauthorizing AgARDA, the ACE Ag Act reaffirms the powerful role the federal government can play in de-risking innovative agricultural technologies. AgARDA is uniquely designed to strategically fund advanced research with large potential benefits, but that is too early-stage or technically risky for private sector investment alone. This type of high-risk, high-reward research will complement existing federal research initiatives, strengthen U.S. agricultural productivity, and ensure American producers remain globally competitive,” said Emily Bass, Director of Federal Policy for Food & Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute.
“Sustained investments in innovation will keep American agricultural producers competitive and resilient amid a changing global marketplace and evolving consumer preferences. BPC Action applauds Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Marshall (R-KS) and Reps. Panetta (D-CA) and Feenstra (R-IA) for their bipartisan leadership on the ACE Agriculture Act, which will help producers adapt to these developments,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).
“AGARDA represents a bold step toward securing the future of American agriculture. By accelerating innovation and resilience in crop and soil systems, AGARDA would empower researchers to meet the agricultural challenges of tomorrow with solutions rooted in science and innovation,” saidJim Cudahy, CEO of American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America
AgARDA was authorized as a pilot program in the 2018 Farm Bill to support high-risk, high-reward advanced research and development projects in the agricultural sector. This legislation also expands the scope of AgARDA to address animal and plant pathogens and pests that can harm farm productivity and study efforts to help farmers conserve water, protect soil health, combat drought, and mitigate the devastating impacts of extreme weather events.
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