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Global affairs group says Congress should prioritize farm bill research funding

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is calling for an increase in research funding in the 2023 Farm Bill.

Peggy Yih, Managing Director of Global Food and Agriculture, says research and development is vital to global food security. “Helping our farmers unlock the tools they need to expand productivity, speed adaptations to changing climate conditions, mitigate rising input costs, and innovate to feed a growing global population.”

She tells Brownfield funding for ag research from federal and state governments has declined 20 percent since 1995. “This upcoming farm bill is a critical opportunity for us to realign our investments and priorities as we’ve seen over the past 25 years with this decline in agricultural investments.”

Yih says the council is recommending increases in funding for the four USDA research and statistical agencies. She says robust funding is also needed for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.