The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is undertaking a comprehensive examination of how it can serve as the National Academy of Agriculture—providing strategic foresight, authoritative guidance, and trusted scientific information on issues critical to the present and future of U.S. agriculture.
To guide this work, CAST has formed a Strategic Advisory Council composed of 18 distinguished leaders from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.
For 53 years, CAST has convened and coordinated networks of experts to assemble, interpret, and communicate credible, objective, science-based information to policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public.
As agriculture faces rapid technological change, rising geopolitical competition, shifting consumer expectations, and evolving food and national security risks, the U.S. needs strong, coordinated, cross-sector leadership in agricultural science and technology.
CAST’s credibility, nonpartisan structure, cross-sector membership, extensive expert network, and proven communication capacity make it uniquely capable of filling this leadership role.
To guide this work, CAST has formed a Strategic Advisory Council composed of 18 distinguished leaders from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.
The SAC will assess, define, and recommend the steps necessary for CAST to evolve into the National Academy of Agriculture. The council will work to answer critical questions:
The SAC will regularly meet over the next several months and will provide recommendations to the CAST Board of Directors by mid-2026.
As agriculture faces rapid technological change, rising geopolitical competition, shifting consumer expectations, and evolving food and national security risks, the U.S. needs strong, coordinated, cross-sector leadership in agricultural science and technology.
CAST’s credibility, nonpartisan structure, cross-sector membership, extensive expert network, and proven communication capacity make it uniquely capable of filling this leadership role.
To guide this work, CAST has formed a Strategic Advisory Council composed of 18 distinguished leaders from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.










