Congressman Baumgartner Welcomes New Funding for the ‘Feed the Future’ Innovation Lab at WSU for Animal Health Research

Congressman Baumgartner Welcomes New Funding for the ‘Feed the Future’ Innovation Lab at WSU for Animal Health Research October 19, 2026 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the State Department announced Washington State University was selected as one of eight Feed the Future Innovation Labs to receive new funding for its research on animal health. Through these Innovation Labs, the Department of State is investing in research that draws upon the strength of American universities to advance solutions that reduce global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. “Animal diseases, like the New World screwworm, threaten farmers’ livelihoods, our food supply and the prices families pay at the grocery store. I welcome the State Department’s long-term, strategic investment in advancing research that protects livestock and strengths food security,” said Congressman Micheal Baumgartner (WA-05), acknowledging Washington State University’s central role in the initiative. The Innovation Labs are led by American land-grant universities, with links to 24 additional research and academic institutions in the United States and internationally.   Auburn University, University of Mississippi, Kansas State University, the University of Georgia, the University of Hawaii and the University of Florida round out the research institutions recognized by the Department of State, today. “Every dollar invested in Innovation Labs and in agricultural research strengthens U.S. farmers and exporters,” Baumagartner continued.  “This is the sort of strategic aid that extends U.S. influence abroad and I congratulate Secretary Rubio for his leadership on modernizing U.S. foreign assistance.” Background: The labs bring cutting edge agricultural research to bear on crop and livestock diseases, agricultural productivity and food safety challenges, while developing relationships between U.S. and emerging markets. Congressman Baumgartner advocated and voted to include $72 million for Feed the Future Innovation Labs in fiscal year 2026, and he voted to protect FY 2025 funds from rescission , sustaining university-led agriculture research to benefit Eastern Washington producers and strengthen global food security. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities estimates that investments in Innovation Labs have generated an estimated $8 in economic benefits for every $1 invested.