Securing U.S. Leadership in Earth Information for Global Food Security and American Agriculture

The Essential Nature of Earth Information‍

The United States Government should embark on an ambitious effort to strengthen and modernize the public Earth information capabilities that underpin domestic food production, agricultural competitiveness, and global food security.

Earth information encompasses the data we collect about how our planet functions and the knowledge we derive from it. It includes primary data from satellite observations, ground-based monitoring networks, and ocean and atmospheric sensors. These observations become usable information through weather and climate models and other forms of analysis. Together, this information supports agricultural decision making, disaster preparedness, and food security planning.

Why Now?

The Earth information infrastructure underpinning American agricultural competitiveness and global food security early warning is vulnerable. Multiple programs supporting international capacity building, disaster preparedness, and Earth systems science have been scaled back or terminated, and foundational Earth science research institutions face sustained pressure.

The U.S. government must protect, sustain, and enhance the use of Earth information for agriculture and food security planning through a three-part plan:

SECURE the foundation.

Protect critical capabilities from degradation, ensure sustained investment, and create durable institutional structures.

BUILD smarter systems.

Close capability gaps where we have fallen behind international competitors, invest in next-generation forecasting and AI/ML, and rebuild research capacity.

LEAD the future.

Strengthen the public and private ecosystem, coordinate federal Earth information as a unified national asset, and position the United States to lead for decades to come.

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Download the report to learn more.

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