From Soil Health to Market Growth: USDA’s New Research Priorities
Soil health and expanding markets for U.S. agricultural products are among five new research priorities released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These priorities are designed to strengthen the nation’s competitiveness, protect U.S. agriculture and support American farmers and consumers.
The announcement, supported by a Secretary’s Memorandum, states that all new research and development activities will focus on projects that prioritize one or more of the following:
- Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers: Given ongoing price volatility, research and development will be aimed at increasing profitability for American farmers and ranchers, such as by reducing input costs or increasing mechanization and automation.
- Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products: With many producers experiencing record yields, USDA will support research to expand markets or create new uses for U.S. commodities. The goal is to increase demand for U.S. output at home and abroad.
- Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land: American producers are the original conservationists, driven by their desire to pass on their land in better shape to the next generation. Research that promotes soil health practices, increases water-use efficiency and reduces inputs will ensure their farms and ranches remain productive for the future.
- Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species: American agriculture and natural resources are under threat from invasive pests and diseases, including New World Screwworm and avian influenza. Research and development will target new methods to prevent, detect, control and eradicate these risks.
- Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality: Research will seek to understand how healthy diets affect individuals, enabling more targeted nutritional recommendations to encourage healthy choices, outcomes and families. In turn, research and development that increases the nutritional content and quality of food will increase demand for American agricultural products.