The U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled a new set of research and development priorities for 2026 on Dec. 30, including a renewed emphasis on expanding markets and identifying new uses for American agricultural products, particularly in biofuels and bioenergy.
The updated priorities were formalized through a memorandum signed Dec. 30 by Brooke Rollins, which outlines five focus areas intended to guide future USDA research investments. According to the agency, the priorities are designed to bolster national security, safeguard U.S. agriculture, and strengthen outcomes for farmers and consumers alike.
Under the memorandum, all USDA agencies and staff offices are instructed—effective immediately and to the fullest extent allowed by law—to align new research and development initiatives with one or more of the five designated priority areas, while complying with applicable regulatory and procedural requirements.
Biofuels, bioenergy, and innovative biobased products fall under the second priority area, which centers on market expansion and developing new applications for U.S.-grown commodities. “With many producers experiencing record yields this growing season, it is more important than ever to ensure USDA is expanding markets and creating new uses for these American-grown commodities,” Rollins wrote in the memo. “Research and development that seeks to open new markets—such as generating science and data to resolve longstanding sanitary and phytosanitary trade barriers—or expand the utilization of these commodities in novel biobased products and bioenergy (including biofuels) will result in increased demand.”
The remaining four priority areas focus on improving profitability for farmers and ranchers; protecting U.S. agriculture from invasive species; advancing soil health to support long-term land productivity; and enhancing human health through precision nutrition and improved food quality.
The memorandum points to a combination of rising input costs, persistent inflation, limited trade opportunities, regulatory burdens, and increasing threats from pests and disease as sources of mounting strain on the agricultural economy. It also asserts that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental justice policies have “diverted resources away from solving the serious challenges facing American agriculture.”
Reflecting on the historical role of federal agricultural research, Rollins referenced the founding of the USDA’s research mission under Abraham Lincoln. “When he created the People’s Department and the land-grant university system in 1862, President Lincoln had a vision for American agriculture rooted in agricultural innovation and education. Since that time, research coming from USDA and our colleges of agriculture have successfully helped American farmers and ranchers address countless challenges,” she said. “The priorities we are announcing today further reiterates Donald Trump’s commitment to put Farmers First and provides our agricultural researchers with a strategic roadmap to help keep our producers at the forefront of productivity.”
The full memorandum outlining the 2026 research and development priorities is available on the USDA’s website.
Adapted from an article originally shared by Biodiesel Magazine. Image Credit: iStock by Getty Images – Art Wager
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