As the global population continues to soar, the agriculture industry faces new challenges posed by a changing climate; due to the two-front situation, advocacy group AGree has called on Congress to hold hearings about the future of agriculture.
“We believe Congress has a critical role in helping strengthen the food and agriculture system that extends beyond its funding responsibilities,” Todd Barker, a senior partner of the Meridian Institute, a non-profit organization that provides support to AGree, said.
Congress also holds regulatory powers and can work with both public and private sectors to develop innovative solutions to agricultural problems. Some specific suggestions AGree posed in its report were calling for the strengthening of the USDA chief scientist or making data from publicly funded research accessible to the public.
Congress also sets priorities and spending allocations, which are an important part of agriculture’s future as well.
“We believe Congress should convene hearings focused specifically on food and ag research to review research priorities in the context of crucial food and ag challenges facing the U.S. and global community,” Barker said.
By 2050, another two billion people are expected to be added to the global population. When that is combined with issues like pollinator loss, drought, changing temperatures and other issues that make the future of agriculture uncertain, AGree argues that action is necessary.
The report also calls for public research funding to be targeted at areas private research likely wouldn’t explore, while maintaining U.S. leadership in global food and agriculture research.
Alerts Sign-up