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Food Production

Ensuring a secure and sustainable food supply requires innovation across agricultural systems. The National Academies examine how science, technology, and policy can improve food production efficiency, resilience, and access while reducing environmental impact. 

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Guidance for Federal Conservation Programs on PFAS on Agricultural Lands Offered in New Report

News Release

A new report examines the scope of PFAS challenges in agriculture and identifies steps that land conservation agencies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture could take to reduce the impacts of these “forever chemicals” on natural resources and agricultural productivity.

Feb 13, 2026
A wheat harvest in Brownsburg, Indiana (NRCS photo by Brandon O’Connor)

Why are native seeds important?

Based on Science

Native plants provide the foundation for environments to support pollinators (like bees), butterflies, birds, and other life above and below ground. However, the supply of native seeds to restore and conserve ecosystems often falls short of demand.

May 22, 2025
Pictured: Dornith Doherty, Sunflowers, 2009, dye coupler lenticular photograph, 29.75 x 48.5 inches. Permanent collection of the National Academy of Sciences. This print was part of the exhibition, Dornith Doherty: Archiving Eden, presented at the National Academy of Sciences in 2019.

Do foods made with GMOs pose special health risks?

Based on Science

There is no validated evidence that foods made from GMOs are less healthy than non-GMO foods.

May 2, 2022
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