91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ

May 22, 2025
Submitted on behalf of: 
Amalia Corby
Director of Federal Affairs
American Society for Microbiology  

The American Society for Microbiology (91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ) urges Congress to increase funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to at least $500 million in fiscal year (FY) 2026. This is consistent with the AFRI Coalition, of which 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ is a member. We also request $1.877 billion for the Agricultural Research Service and at least $10 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA). 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ also requests an increase of $85 million for antimicrobial resistance priorities at USDA.

91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ appreciates the opportunity to submit outside witness testimony for the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Established in 1899, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ is the home for microbial scientists from around the globe to connect, learn, discover and prepare for the future. 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ is one of the oldest and largest single life science societies, with 37,000 members in the U.S. and around the world, whose mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences. We connect with millions of experts and harness their science to serve humanity to solve the world's most pressing problems, including agricultural production, resilience to extreme weather events and combating antimicrobial resistance. 

Impact of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Microbial Sciences 

91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ asks Congress to provide at least $500 million in funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) in FY26 to invest in crucial areas aimed at addressing our nation’s most urgent and pressing food, agriculture and public health challenges. AFRI is the nation’s leading competitive grants program for the agricultural sciences, supporting microbiology research at universities throughout the country to develop solutions to combat emerging threats that negatively impact the agriculture sector, such as avian influenza and antimicrobial resistance, improve livestock and crop resilience to variable weather conditions and support precision agriculture to increase efficiency and sustainability. In an era of rapidly evolving challenges, such as extreme weather events, pests and diseases, investing in extramural research at AFRI becomes imperative for farmers to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing agricultural landscape. This includes continued support for production agriculture, soil health, agricultural biosecurity, food and agricultural microbiomes, nanotechnology, food safety, water quality, food loss and waste and pollinator health. 

91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ also asks Congress to provide at least $1.877 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in FY26. The ARS is the chief scientific intramural research agency of the USDA, conducting research in 95 locations throughout the U.S. to find solutions to agricultural problems, ensuring safe food, assessing nutritional needs, sustaining a competitive agricultural economy and enhancing natural resources and the environment. Funding of at least $1.877 billion will ensure that ARS can respond effectively to new plant and animal pests and diseases, build resilience to extreme weather and environmental stresses and address food safety and nutrition security concerns. Innovative research supported by this funding helps American farmers produce safe, nutritious food while protecting natural resources for future generations.

91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ asks Congress to provide an investment of at least $10 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA). Advanced research agencies have been effectively deployed at the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to tackle the biggest challenges facing these industries in novel and groundbreaking ways. Modeled after successful advanced research agencies like the DOD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), support for AGARDA will foster research, development and technology transfer resulting in significant benefits across the U.S. food and agriculture value chain. It is critical for AGARDA to receive enough funding to appoint leadership, hire staff and support a sufficient number of agricultural research projects to show that this model can produce impactful results. 

USDA-Funded Research is Needed to Address Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance in agriculture arises from the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock, aquaculture and crop production, leading to the development of resistant bacteria that can spread through the food chain and environment, posing a threat to human and animal health. With most emerging diseases and pandemics originating from animals, including food animals, the USDA needs more resources to support its work on biodefense to protect both people and animals from resistant infections. We ask that Congress appropriate an increase of $85 million for antimicrobial resistance priorities at USDA to support innovative research and monitoring. This includes an increase of $25 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to strengthen the Zoonotic Disease Management program, which has been chronically underfunded, and to support the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). A $60 million increase for Research, Education and Economics is needed to support agricultural research at the ARS and AFRI. These funds will enable USDA investigators and scientists to better understand the factors driving the emergence of resistant pathogens, develop new vaccines and antibiotic alternatives.

The USDA’s 2023 Strategy to Address Antimicrobial Resistance mentions the importance of accelerating our understanding and minimizing the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Increased research support on antimicrobial resistance would lead to a better understanding of the science of microbes, how resistance emerges and is spread and how pathogens react to countermeasures. This includes research support to increase our understanding of the microbiome in animals and various environments and production systems to stay ahead of the disease curve.

Our nation’s ability to meet the 21st century challenges of human nutrition and food security, conservation of our nation’s resources and antimicrobial resistance will only be possible if Congress provides robust and sustained funding increases for agricultural research through AFRI, ARS and AGARDA. 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ strongly believes that funding cutting-edge agricultural research, including prioritizing microbial sciences research, will help our nation’s farmers and ranchers succeed in the 21st century.