Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), tasked with conducting research to improve agricultural productivity, protect and conserve natural resources, and promote a better quality of life for rural America. Established in 1953, ARS is one of the nation’s oldest federal agencies and works with public universities, private companies, state governments, non-governmental organizations and other partners. It has offices in every state and Puerto Rico as well as several international locations.
The mission statement of ARS is “to invest in science that advances knowledge for agriculture so people have access to safer food, renewable energy sources, healthier environments and sustainable communities.” To carry out this mission effectively, ARS focuses on four core areas: crop production; animal production; environmental health; human nutrition.
In crop production research efforts focus on developing new varieties adapted to different climates or resistant to pests or diseases. Researchers also work towards improving yield through better water management techniques or soil fertility optimization approaches. In animal production researchers are studying ways to reduce disease outbreaks by increasing hygiene standards for livestock farms or developing more efficient breeding programs which increase genetic diversity while reducing costs associated with rearing animals such as feed expenses. Additionally they search for ways to use alternative ingredients like insects instead of traditional feeds which can be costly when produced at industrial scale operations .
Environmental health research ensures that farming practices do not degrade air quality nor cause excessive water pollution from runoffs due their fertilizers use or pesticide applications . They also investigate how climate change will affect yields on certain crops and what strategies farmers should adopt in order mitigate its effects . Finally Human nutrition studies aim at understanding how different components found in food interact with our bodies , helping us decide what types fruits & vegetables provide us most benefit when included regularly into our diets .
Overall , ARS plays an important role providing scientific evidence & technological solutions related to agriculture that enable both producers & consumers alike make informed decisions regarding current trends affecting the field such as population growth , climate change & global trade agreements among others