A New Direction for U.S. Agricultural Research and Innovation—and How AgInnovation is Positioned to Engage

A newly released USDA memorandum outlines five national research priorities aimed at strengthening American agriculture, supporting farmers and ranchers, and securing the future of the U.S. food system.

Released by the USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins — summarized for agInnovation

The 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, starts 2026 by emphasizing the crucial need for agricultural research and development.

At the end of 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a directive reaffirming the central role of research that directly supports farmers, strengthens rural communities, and ensures the long-term resilience of the nation's food and agricultural systems.

Framed around USDA's original mission as "The People's Department," the directive emphasizes that agricultural innovation has always been foundational to America's productivity, prosperity, and global leadership—and that strategic investment in research remains essential to meeting today's challenges. AgInnovation is uniquely positioned within this landscape, uniting a nationwide network of experiment stations. Together, these institutions form the core of America’s publicly funded agricultural research enterprise, conducting roughly three-quarters of all federally supported agricultural research and development.

The Five Research Priorities Shaping the Future of U.S. Agriculture

The memorandum establishes five core priorities that will guide USDA research and development efforts moving forward:

Supporting Farmer and Rancher Profitability

Research will prioritize innovations that help producers reduce costs, improve efficiency, and stabilize profitability—recognizing that economic resilience on the farm is essential to the strength of the entire food system.

Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses for U.S. Agricultural Products

With strong yields across many sectors, USDA is emphasizing research that opens new domestic and international markets; removes trade barriers; and expands demand through new biobased products, bioenergy, and other emerging uses.

Protecting American Agriculture from Invasive Species and Disease

The directive highlights growing threats from pests and diseases that endanger crops, livestock, and natural resources. Research focused on prevention, detection, and response is positioned as a matter of agricultural—and national—security.

Promoting Soil Health and Long-Term Land Productivity

Recognizing farmers and ranchers as long-term stewards of the land, USDA will prioritize research that improves soil health, increases water efficiency, and sustains productivity for future generations.

Advancing Human Health through Nutrition and Food Quality

The memorandum calls for expanded research into precision nutrition and food quality, connecting agricultural innovation directly to healthier diets, improved outcomes, and increased demand for American-grown foods.

Why This Matters

The United States has long led the world in agricultural research and innovation—but that leadership is no longer assured.

Today, global competitors including China, India, and the European Union are investing billions into agriculture, food security, biotechnology, and human health research. These investments are strategic, sustained, and designed to secure long-term economic and geopolitical advantage.

USDA's new research priorities make one thing clear: agricultural innovation is no longer optional. It is foundational to national security, economic competitiveness, public health, and food system resilience.

But federal leadership alone is not enough.

This moment calls for bold public-private partnership. Corporations, private foundations, impact investors, universities, and government agencies must move together—now—to accelerate cutting-edge research, scale proven solutions, and build the infrastructure that will define the next generation of American agriculture.

Investing in agricultural R&D is investing in farmers, rural economies, supply chains, human health, and the United States' position as a global leader. The stakes are high. The opportunity is real. And the window to act is now.

AgInnovation exists to help catalyze this work—connecting research, capital, and communities to ensure the U.S. doesn't just keep pace, but leads.

AgInnovation's Role

AgInnovation operates at the intersection of research, policy, and investment—working to ensure the innovation driving American agriculture is visible, connected, and accelerated.

Aligned with USDA's research priorities, agInnovation elevates the people, ideas, and partnerships advancing agriculture across regions and disciplines. We surface real-world research and on-the-ground innovation, translating complex science into compelling narratives that build understanding, momentum, and support.

At a time of intensifying global competition, agInnovation convenes researchers, practitioners, and funders—public and private—to break down silos and catalyze collaboration. We encourage leaders across the agricultural innovation ecosystem to network, speak boldly and proudly about the impact of their work, and partner across sectors to build a groundswell of investment in the research and infrastructure essential to U.S. leadership.

We invite researchers, practitioners, institutions, corporations, foundations, and government partners to engage with agInnovation: share stories from your region, connect with peers and funders, and help shape a national narrative that champions American agricultural innovation—now and for generations to come.

Read the full article here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-020.pdf

USDA and Secretary Rollins are not affiliated with or endorsing agInnovation; our organization is independently aligned with the priorities identified in this memorandum and is committed to helping share the stories that advance them.