The purposes of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and education are to—

(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment;

(2) increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy depend;

(3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops;

(4) support agricultural research and extension to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry;

(5) improve risk management in the United States agriculture industry;

(6) improve the safe production and processing of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental soundness;

(7) support higher education in agriculture to give the next generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States agriculture;

(8) maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to meet human nutritional needs and requirements; and

support international collaboration that leverages resources and advances priority food and agricultural interests of the United States, such as—

(A) addressing emerging plant and animal diseases;

(B) improving crop varieties and animal breeds; and

(C) developing safe, efficient, and nutritious food systems.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1402, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1602(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3705; amended Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 801, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1156; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7101, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4779.)