State Department launches new federal labs to boost U.S. agricultural exports

The U.S. State Department has announced the creation of seven new federal research laboratories, backed by $64 million in funding, with the goal of rebuilding export markets for American agricultural products. These new labs are intended to replace Feed the Future research programs that were impacted by federal budget cuts in early 2025, aiming to help countries develop stronger farm systems and reduce their reliance on U.S. taxpayer assistance.