The Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) — a federal program created as a pilot to develop cutting-edge farming technology — would become permanent. Its scope would expand to include water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and resilience to drought, disease, and extreme weather. Funding would double from $50 million to $100 million per year through 2032. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural researchers would benefit from longer-term investment in technologies that help the industry adapt to climate challenges and stay competitive in global markets.
Congressional Summary
Advancing Cutting Edge Agriculture Act or the ACE Agriculture ActThis bill reauthorizes the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) through FY2032 and expands the program's environmental sustainability goals. This Department of Agriculture (USDA) program supports innovative research and development of technology, research tools, and products to address long-term and high-risk challenges related to food and agriculture.The bill expands the program's goals to includewater conservation;responding to greenhouse gas emissions; andresilience to drought, infectious diseases, and plant and animal pathogens and pests.The bill also expands the program's goals to include undertaking advanced research and development in areas in which industry by itself is not likely to do so because of economic cost.Further, the bill removes the current pilot program designation and requires USDA to establish and maintain an AGARDA staff.Finally, the bill allows USDA to use any unobligated USDA funds to implement the program.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-01-16
- Date Added
- 2026-04-16