DOD and USDA Interagency Research Act
H.R. 7547
H.R. 7547
02/12/2026
The Department of Defense (DOD) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Interagency Research Act strengthens, formalizes and builds on the essential federal research partnerships that American innovators need to increase U.S. agricultural competitiveness, enhance national security and manage America’s natural resources.
The DOD (renamed the Department of War) and USDA Interagency Research Act authorizes key research partnerships between the U.S. Department of War (DOW) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by establishing a Memorandum of Understanding to carry out collaborative research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of DOW and USDA mission priorities, including establishing and supporting the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA).
American innovation advancing novel agricultural solutions is essential to national security, agricultural resilience and global competitiveness. DOW and USDA are the lead federal agencies for these efforts and can amplify shared research goals in agricultural data architecture, biological sciences, precision agriculture technologies, and operational resilience and preparedness for natural disasters, among others. As global demand for U.S. agriculture rises, there is an urgent need to streamline and preserve DOW and USDA’s research partnerships in law for the next generation.
The U.S. must regain and maintain leadership in agricultural innovation to ensure American farmers have the most up-to-date tools and technologies needed to feed and fuel the nation and the world. The DOW and USDA Interagency Research Act would strengthen the essential federal research partnerships needed to accomplish this and get American researchers, farmers, and ranchers the resources they need to compete globally while maximizing the return on investment of taxpayer dollars.
Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN)
Rep. Don Davis (D-NC)
American Conservation Coalition Action, American Seed Trade Association, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Breakthrough Institute, C3 Action, ClearPath Action.