# Plain Language Summary: ACE Agriculture Act

The ACE Agriculture Act makes permanent a government program called AGARDA (Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority) that was previously set to expire. Think of AGARDA as a special research unit within the Department of Agriculture designed to tackle big, risky agricultural challenges that private companies won't invest in because they're too expensive or uncertain. Right now, this program is temporary—it was only authorized through 2023. This bill makes it permanent and doubles its funding from $50 million per year to $100 million per year through 2029.

The bill expands what AGARDA can work on. In addition to its current focus on developing new agricultural technologies, the program can now specifically prioritize water conservation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and helping farms become more resilient to extreme weather, droughts, diseases, and pests. These additions reflect growing concerns about climate change and water scarcity affecting American agriculture. The bill also clarifies that AGARDA's director will report directly to the Department of Agriculture's Chief Scientist, giving the program more independence and clearer leadership structure.

For farmers and agricultural businesses, this means more government-backed research into technologies that could help them adapt to environmental challenges and compete globally. For taxpayers, it represents a commitment to invest $100 million annually in agricultural innovation. The bill also allows the Department of Agriculture to hire specialized scientists and researchers more flexibly to staff the program, making it easier to attract top talent. Overall, this is a straightforward measure to keep a research program running and give it more resources and clearer direction to address modern farming challenges.

ACE Agriculture Act

Panetta, Jimmy

Advancing Cutting Edge Agriculture Act or the ACE Agriculture Act This bill reauthorizes the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) and expands the program's environmental sustainability goals. (The 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 include water conservation and responding to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as resilience to (1) drought, (2) infectious diseases, and (3) plant and animal pathogens and pests. The bill also removes the current pilot program designation and requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and maintain an AGARDA staff.