Where's the Federal Funding for Food Systems Research?

Objectives This research project provides a novel assessment of historic and current levels of federal funding for systems-based nutrition research, defined as research that evaluates nutrition and dietary patterns in the context of agroecological systems, and demonstrates the need for greater public funding by identifying persistent research gaps in food systems research and the social, economic, and environmental costs of these needs remaining unmet. The work is being motivated by a growing movement among nutrition and health advocates to elevate the role of nutrition in improving population health and reducing health care costs and highlight the need for greater public funding for and focus on nutrition research. Methods Federal spending on systems-based nutrition research was estimated using information from the NIH Human Nutrition Research Information Management System and direct communication with federal agencies providing funding for initiatives supporting relevant research between 2010 and 2020. Gaps in systems-based nutrition research will be defined based on systematic evaluation by federal entities such as the 2015 and 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committees and Interagency Committee on Human Nutrition Research. Results Preliminary results indicate that there is less than $150 million in federal funding allocated to nutrition research related to food and agricultural production, food processing and manufacturing, supply chains, and sustainable diets, representing less than 10% of all annual nutrition research funding, which has remained stagnant for decades. Conclusions Federal investments in systems-based nutrition research at leading federal institutions, including the US Department of Agriculture and National Institutes of Health, pale in comparison to the costs of diet-related disease and threats posed by climate change, environmental pollution, and diet-related health disparities. Greater investments in this field of study, including filling research gaps identified by leading expert reports and improving coordination of research among federal agencies, will be essential to developing effective solutions to pressing public health threats. Funding Sources Funding provided by The Lumpkin Family Foundation, The Martin Foundation, the WK Kellogg Foundation, and the Union of Concerned Scientists members.