Posted on April 9, 2025 by Jasmine Yu
The world will need over 60% more food by 2050 to support a growing global population. We would like to say the U.S. agricultural sector is uniquely positioned to meet this challenge thanks to decades of progress in agricultural innovation and conservation practices. However, the agricultural innovation muscles in America are starting to atrophy, and our research and development investments now trail China, the European Union, and potentially India and Brazil soon.
Federal policies prioritizing innovation over regulation can ensure American farmers and ranchers continue to increase productivity, increase on-farm efficiencies, and reduce emissions.
Historically, agricultural innovation, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has provided American farmers and ranchers with science-backed tools and practices that maximize productivity and create solutions to on-farm challenges, including animal diseases, pests and weather conditions. In fact, over the last 50 years, as a direct result of federal investments in innovation, U.S. agricultural productivity has tripled. Moreover, since 1990, U.S. agricultural emissions have declined by 25%. And we should not take our foot off the gas; every public dollar spent on agricultural research and development has generated 20 dollars for the U.S. economy. Some of these innovations include:
Despite this incredible success, American investments in agricultural innovation have declined by one-third over the last 20 years, while China, which is now the world’s largest funder of agricultural research and development, takes the lead. Today, China’s investments in these critical technologies approximately double those of the U.S.
Public Agricultural Research and Development Investments by Country
To promote agricultural production and competitiveness, lower food costs, enhance conservation and ensure rural communities thrive, the U.S. must regain leadership in agricultural innovation by recommitting to USDA innovation initiatives.
The good news: The first Trump administration laid the groundwork for critical USDA programs and initiatives aimed at prioritizing American agriculture innovation. Three key actions America can recommit to in agriculture innovation include:
American farmers are up to the task to help supply the world with more than 60% more food — and our federal policies can support them. If we let America’s free market advantage work and increase our ability to innovate, we’ll produce more food, reduce emissions, and America will win.
