Additional Context: According to Devex's reporting, a new venture, Responsible Innovations, emerged as former USAID-backed researchers sought to preserve years of food systems research and global partnerships.

This quote is attributed to Erin McGuire who led the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture at the University of California Davis. This lab focused on fruits and vegetables, from how they are grown and bred to how they are stored, marketed, and consumed.

Devex Researcher Note: The $50 billion foreign affairs spending bill that the U.S. Congress passed in early 2026 includes $175 million for international agricultural research, including at least $72 million for the innovation labs. But, with research dropped midway through, there is little clarity on how this funding would be able to quickly restart what has already been lost.

Source: Devex