Letters to Congressional Leadership and President Biden Urging Investment in Agricultural Research
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
Room H-305, The Capitol Room
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-221, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-230, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell:
America’s agricultural enterprise, the lifeblood of Rural America, is facing multiple challenges: climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and research and development (R&D) competition from China, Brazil, and India to feed, clothe, and house the growing world population while still meeting our own country's needs. Our farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters need a significant investment in agricultural research, infrastructure, and innovation in order to provide affordable solutions to these crises, while striving to achieve net zero emissions. We write to express our strong support for intramural and extramural agriculture research and capacity across the country. As Congress continues to negotiate a federal infrastructure package, we ask that you prioritize significant investments, at least $40 billion,
for agricultural climate research, agricultural innovation, and agricultural research infrastructure.
Food and agriculture have significant economic impact. A 2021 study shows that the food and agriculture sectors account for roughly one-fifth of the country’s economic activity, directly supporting nearly 20 million jobs. That’s more than 13% of U.S. employment. Total jobs indirectly supported by food and agriculture reach almost 41 million jobs. The total output of these sectors is $7 trillion.1
By providing solutions to short- and long-term challenges, research makes our food and agriculture sectors a powerhouse of the U.S. economy. A recent study found that U.S. public food and agriculture R&D spending from 1910 to 2007 returned, on average, $17 in benefits for every $1 invested.2 Increased funding of USDA’s research and development (R&D) programs will invest in our rural communities and give our farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters the tools needed to improve resiliency and scale climate-smart agriculture. Without significant investments in climate-smart agriculture research and outreach, U.S. farmers and ranchers could face serious production challenges. A recent study in the journal Climate found that average U.S. corn, soybean, and rice yields could fall by up to 23%, 15%, and 4%, respectively, by 2100.3
Modern agricultural research and education facilities serve as the backbone of our nation’s cutting-edge agricultural and food research enterprise. The situation is dire, 69% of the buildings at U.S. colleges and schools of agriculture are at the end of their useful life.4 Strategic federal investment in agricultural research infrastructure would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationwide.
The federal share of overall R&D spending as a percentage of GDP is now at its lowest point since the 1950s, and food and agriculture lags even further behind most other Federal R&D areas. Food and agricultural research funding at USDA has remained fairly flat over the last 50 years.5 In contrast, funding for other Federal research agencies has increased 10- to 20-fold during the same period. Additionally, other countries, including China, Brazil, and India, are investing heavily in agricultural R&D, while the U.S. has fallen behind.6 We need to make these significant investments to win the R&D race and keep our family farms, and all the people they employ in rural America, in business.
This once-in-a-generation opportunity to significantly fund food and agriculture research, innovation, and infrastructure is crucial for the United States to reclaim our global lead in food and agricultural science and rise to meet today’s crises and those in the future. We look forward to working with you to make these investments a reality.
Read the full letter sent by 151 agriculture organizations, companies and universities to Congressional leadership.
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Thank you for your commitment to our farmers, ranchers, producers, foresters. American agriculture, the lifeblood of Rural America, is facing multiple challenges: climate change, research and development (R&D) competition from China, Brazil, and India, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We applaud the consideration to revitalize American innovation capacity in the American Jobs Plan. We strongly support a robust investment of at least $40 billion, for agricultural climate research, agricultural innovation, and agricultural research infrastructure in any comprehensive infrastructure package moving forward.
Food and agriculture have significant economic impact. A 2021 study shows that these sectors account for roughly one-fifth of the country’s economic activity, directly supporting nearly 20 million jobs. That’s more than 13% of U.S. employment. Total jobs indirectly supported by food and agriculture reach almost 41 million jobs. The total output of these sectors is $7 trillion.1
By providing solutions to short- and long-term challenges, research makes our food and agriculture sectors a powerhouse of the U.S. economy. A recent study found that U.S. public food and agriculture R&D spending from 1910 to 2007 returned, on average, $17 in benefits for every $1 invested.2 Increased funding of USDA’s research and development (R&D) programs, including intramural and extramural agriculture research and capacity, will invest in our rural communities and give our farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters the tools needed to improve resiliency and scale climate-smart agriculture. Without significant investments in climate-smart agriculture research and outreach, U.S. farmers and ranchers could face serious production challenges. A recent study in the journal Climate found that average U.S. corn, soybean, and rice yields could fall by up to 23%, 15%, and 4%, respectively, by 2100.3
Modern agricultural research and education facilities serve as the backbone of our nation’s cutting-edge agricultural and food research enterprise. The situation is dire, 69% of the buildings at U.S. colleges and schools of agriculture are at the end of their useful life.4 Strategic federal investment in agricultural research infrastructure would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationwide.
The federal share of overall R&D spending as a percentage of GDP is now at its lowest point since the 1950s, and food and agriculture lags even further behind most other Federal R&D areas. Food and agricultural research funding at USDA has remained fairly flat over the last 50 years.5 Additionally, as you have repeatedly pointed out, other countries, including China, Brazil, and India, are investing heavily in agricultural R&D, while the U.S. has fallen behind.6 We need to make these significant investments to win the R&D race and keep our family farms, and all the people they employ in rural America, in business.
This once in a generation opportunity to significantly fund food and agriculture research, innovation, and infrastructure is crucial for the United States to reclaim our global lead in food and agricultural science and rise to meet today’s crises and those in the future. We look forward to working with you to make these investments a reality.
Read the full letter sent by 151 agriculture organizations, companies and universities to President Biden.