Research has been fundamental to the growth of the U.S. as a world leading food exporter, as well as an exporter of agricultural technology. The twentieth century saw extraordinary output from public research dollars, resulting in higher crop yields and greater efficiencies.

Since 2000, publicly funded research has fallen by an estimated 30 percent as a portion of all R&D in the U.S.  This trend coincides with the growth of organic agriculture, and the legalization of hemp, both segments where research is critical to make competitive gains.  Declines in funding occurred at both the state and federal level, and private research understandably shifted focus to near-term monetization and biotechnology.

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