Agriculture & Food Research Initiative

This table represents the current status of FY21 appropriations for AAU’s funding priorities at the Departments of Education, Energy, and Defense as well as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, AFRI, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Coalition recommends: robust funding for AFRI in the president’s FY22 budget request; investments in research infrastructure; including food and agriculture research as a priority for the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and increasing the 302(b) funding allocation for Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittees.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Coalition, which includes AAU, today sent a letter to House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Leaders to urge them to include $435 million for AFRI in the final FY21 appropriations measure.

Congressional Agricultural Research Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) sent a letter to House and Senate leaders requesting they include relief for USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture in any future pandemic aid package. According to the representatives, investments in our nation’s agricultural research represents a major return on investment that helps “assist producers, businesses, and local families while helping our nation maintain its competitive edge as the leader of global agricultural research.”

AAU and APLU joined with national, state, and regional stakeholders on a letter to congressional leaders thanking them for their ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19 and requesting that Congress continue to prioritize relief for the United States’ agricultural research, education, and extension programs.

AAU and 41 organizations joined the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Coalition in a March 20 letter to congressional agriculture appropriators to request they provide at least $480 million for the AFRI program in FY21.

AAU supports the administration’s request to fund the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative with at least $480 million in FY21.

An overview of the President's proposed budget for FY21, including summaries and analyses for individual agencies.

This table represents the current status of FY20 appropriations for AAU’s funding priorities at the Departments of Education, Energy, and Defense as well as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, AFRI, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

The Ag Research Caucus circulated a dear colleague letter asking Senate Leadership and Appropriators to fund AFRI at $460 million, consistent with the House-passed level. The letter is being led by Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA).