Today, the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to review President Biden’s FY 2023 budget request for USDA. In his testimony, Secretary Vilsack reiterated the importance of federal investment in agricultural research, explaining that USDA research impacts every program that the agency implements. The National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NCFAR) submitted testimony in advance of the hearing.
Today, the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to review President Biden’s FY 2023 budget request for USDA. In his testimony, Secretary Vilsack reiterated the importance of federal investment in agricultural research, explaining that USDA research impacts every program that the department implements. The President’s Budget proposes an increase of over $355 million for a total of $4.05 billion for USDA Research, Education, and Economics (REE) programs.
“Between 1948 and 2019, total agricultural output in the United States grew by 142 percent. This rise was not due to increases in agricultural land or labor—in fact, both inputs declined over the period. The productivity stemmed from the adoption of a whole suite of innovations and technology transfer in crop and livestock breeding, nutrient use, pest management, farm practices, and farm equipment and structures. These innovations are the fruits of publicly funded agricultural R&D,” Vilsack said.
The National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NCFAR) submitted testimony in advance of the hearing. Key points include:
- Overall, NCFAR supports a 10 percent increase over FY22 enacted for the entire USDA REE Mission Area portfolio.
- Our nation is not investing enough in publicly funded research to permit the discoveries necessary to regain our place as the global leader in food and agricultural research – supporting our food and national security.
- Food and agriculture is the third largest direct contributor to the U.S. GDP after healthcare and housing. Yet, federal funding for food and agricultural science has been essentially flat for over two decades despite much greater demonstrated needs and opportunities.
- In 2015, the U.S. share of global investment in public agricultural research and development was 8.9 percent; China, India and Brazil together spent over $3 for every dollar the U.S. invested in public agricultural research and development.
- The returns on investment in agriculture and food research are significant, averaging $17 for every $1 invested.
- Strategic federal investment in agricultural and food research infrastructure would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationwide.
- The United Nations projects that by 2050, a 70 percent increase in food production will be necessary. Meeting this increase will require much more research developing new technologies.
NCFAR also submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee. Visit ncfar.org to review the organization’s recent outreach to Capitol Hill and the Administration. Contact NCFAR Executive Director Laura Wood Peterson with any questions.