NFU applauds R&D increases in President’s FY 2017 budget request

The National Farmers Union (NFU) expressed support recently for President Barack Obama’s budget request for fiscal year 2017 this week, praising the foresight of an expanded budget for clean energy research and development (R&D), which will be nearly doubled to $12.8 billion by 2021.

“Public research funding that recognizes the special energy needs and potential contributions of American agriculture is absolutely critical for adapting to climate change and mitigating its effects on farmers and ranchers,” NFU President Roger Johnson said. “I believe this plan is a meaningful step in lessening the impacts of climate change and in growing the U.S. economy. I am pleased by the President’s ambitious leadership to ramp up public R&D funding.”

The President’s plan builds upon commitments made at the Paris climate talks last year, when the United States joined 19 other countries in committing to the Mission Innovation initiative to double public sector R&D investments in clear energy over five years. For FY 2017, this means the President has requested $7.7 billion for R&D in the operations of 12 federal agencies, an increase from $6.8 billion.

“We are hopeful for bipartisan support in Congress of these important research investments that benefit rural America and promote food security,” Johnson said.