Reps. Panetta & Feenstra and Sens. Marshall & Bennet Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Bolster Agricultural Innovation

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Randy Feenstra (IA-04), along with Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), reintroduced the Advancing Cutting Edge (ACE) Agriculture Act to better foster innovative agricultural research and development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The ACE Agriculture Act would bolster the agricultural leadership of the United States, strengthen American and global food supplies, and help producers tackle 21st-century agricultural challenges from pathogens and pests, high fertilizer prices, drought, poor soil health, and extreme weather.

Investing in the development of novel agricultural technologies, approaches, and data systems is frequently too technically and financially risky for private capital. At the same time, this type of advanced research and development is often left out of the priorities of the existing research programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which tend to prioritize lower-risk projects that reliably deliver incremental progress.

The 2018 Farm Bill established the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) at USDA to fill this gap and invest in high-risk, high-reward research and development in agriculture and food. Modeled after the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) programs, AgARDA spurs innovation through the development of breakthrough technologies and practices to address water conservation, soil health, disease and pest management, and extreme weather variability.

"Our farmers face an evolving set of challenges and need new, groundbreaking agricultural technologies, approaches, and data systems to continue to survive, provide, and thrive," said Rep. Panetta. "This bipartisan legislation would double our investment in agricultural innovation and expand our efforts to provide for our nation's food security and climate resiliency. For our farmers to continue to compete, they need to be equipped with cutting-edge tools that will push both American and global agriculture forward."

"Research in agriculture is essential to drive innovations that support our Iowa farmers who feed and fuel our nation," said Rep. Feenstra. "This legislation supports President Trump's agenda to advance cutting-edge research that helps our farmers and producers tackle rising input costs, extreme weather, and foreign animal disease, while growing our export markets. I'm proud to lead this effort to strengthen the farm economy and help our producers be successful."

"Kansas farmers face new challenges every day - from extreme weather and biological threats to supply chain disruptions and foreign adversaries," said Senator Marshall. "That's why cutting-edge research is more important than ever. Reauthorizing AgARDA will help USDA fund breakthrough innovation that puts our farmers and food supply first and keeps America the world's agricultural leader."

"Strengthening American leadership in agricultural research and driving real breakthroughs requires sustained investment," said Senator Bennet. "As Colorado's family farmers and ranchers face persistent drought, higher costs, extreme weather, and increased global competition, the ACE Agriculture Act focuses those investments on practical tools that help producers adapt to a changing climate and agricultural landscape."

The ACE Agriculture Act is endorsed by: the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), Iowa State University, ClearPathAction, Breakthrough Institute, Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action), and American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.

"FACA applauds Representatives Panetta and Feenstra for their bipartisan leadership on the ACE Agriculture Act and their continued support for AGARDA," said the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance. "Sustained investment in food and agriculture research and innovation will drive the development of new, science-based practices, strengthen on-farm resilience, and bolster America's food security."

"We are grateful for Rep. Panetta's leadership in championing the Advancing Cutting Edge (ACE) Agriculture Act," said UC Santa Cruz Vice Chancellor for Research John MacMillan. "California is a worldwide leader in agriculture, and researchers across the University of California system-including those at UC Santa Cruz-partner with growers statewide to address urgent and emerging agricultural challenges. Sustained federal support for transformative research is essential to strengthening and protecting the nation's food system and to supporting farmers in growing healthy, nutritious food for the U.S. population. The ACE Act is a critical investment in that mission."

"We are so pleased to have support for agricultural programs that benefit research at Iowa State University as well as our stakeholders," said Peter Dorhout, Vice President for Research at Iowa State University. "Building on the strength of competitive and capacity funding from USDA, innovative programs like AgARDA can help usher in a new approach to applied research to help us continue our work as a trusted partner for farmers and producers in Iowa and across the nation."

"The U.S. must regain and maintain leadership in agricultural innovation by developing and deploying cutting-edge agricultural technologies and practices. Reps. Feenstra (R-IA) and Panetta's (D-CA) and Sens. Marshall (R-KS) and Bennet's (D-CO) ACE Agriculture Act supports American innovation, ensuring American farmers and ranchers have the most up-to-date tools and technologies needed to increase profitability, participate in bioproduct markets, protect from pests and disease, and promote soil health, all while reducing emissions," said ClearPath Action CEO, Jeremy Harrell.

"By reauthorizing AgARDA, the ACE Ag Act reaffirms the powerful role the federal government can play in de-risking innovative agricultural technologies. AgARDA is uniquely designed to strategically fund advanced research with large potential benefits, but that is too early-stage or technically risky for private sector investment alone. This type of high-risk, high-reward research will complement existing federal research initiatives, strengthen U.S. agricultural productivity, and ensure American producers remain globally competitive," said Emily Bass, Director of Federal Policy for Food & Agriculture at the Breakthrough Institute.

"Sustained investments in innovation will keep American agricultural producers competitive and resilient amid a changing global marketplace and evolving consumer preferences. BPC Action applauds Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Marshall (R-KS) and Reps. Panetta (D-CA) and Feenstra (R-IA) for their bipartisan leadership on the ACE Agriculture Act, which will help producers adapt to these developments," said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

"AGARDA represents a bold step toward securing the future of American agriculture. By accelerating innovation and resilience in crop and soil systems, AGARDA would empower researchers to meet the agricultural challenges of tomorrow with solutions rooted in science and innovation," said Jim Cudahy, CEO of American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.

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