Senior Global Futures scientist discusses the multifaceted role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

A tractor and harvesting machine working together in a large field, cutting and collecting crops under a cloudy sky, with rows of harvested crops visible in the background.

Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University and former USDA Deputy Secretary, recently authored an article exploring the multifaceted role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Published in The Conversation, the article Agriculture secretary oversees food production, rural life, and nutrition programs that help millions afford healthy diets highlights how the USDA, with a $231 billion annual budget, extends far beyond farming to address critical issues like food insecurity, rural development, and wildfire management. Merrigan emphasizes that nutrition programs, such as SNAP, make up 70-80% of the USDA’s budget, serving 1 in 4 Americans. She also discusses challenges like potential SNAP budget cuts, rising food costs, and the USDA’s expanded role in addressing climate change and rural infrastructure. Her insights underscore the USDA's vast and often overlooked impact on American society.

Melanie Osborne