AIBS has joined the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Coalition in urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to provide $700 million for AFRI in fiscal year (FY) 2023.
The AFRI Coalition is comprised of organizations representing research institutions, scientific societies, and other food and agricultural stakeholders who advocate for increased investments in AFRI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) flagship competitive grants program for fundamental and applied research, extension, and education in support of our nation’s interconnected food and agricultural systems.
“This funding level for the program is needed to invest in crucial areas aimed at addressing our nation’s most urgent and pressing food, agriculture, and public health challenges,” the coalition urged in their letter to appropriators. “AFRI-funded research supports COVID-19 recovery, climate change adaptation and mitigation, equity across the food system, food safety and traceability, supply chain resiliency, bioenergy, nutrition and wellness, agricultural technology, rural economic prosperity, and a diverse research workforce.”
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