A new report says stagnant public funding for agricultural research is threatening the future vitality of U.S. food systems.
That poses risks to farmer productivity and profitability, the steady supply of affordable food, and ultimately, global food security.
The report is a joint effort from the Farm Journal Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The report highlights the vital importance of public funding for agricultural research and development.
New innovations are crucial so farmers can increase their productivity and meet the rising global demand for food.
The world population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, and food production will have to increase by 60-70% to meet the rising demand.
While private-sector funding for agricultural R and D has been rising, U.S. public spending has been flat for the past ten years.
“The U.S. has always been a leader in agricultural innovation, but we’re at risk of losing that advantage by falling behind the rest of the world in research and development,” says AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
Tricia Beal, CEO of Farm Journal Foundation, says, “COVID-19 showed we need more research to deal with unexpected shocks and to find solutions that make our entire food system more resilient.”
