** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE UNITED STATES, A GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL LEADER, FACES ESCALATING CHALLENGES IN THE BIOTECH CROP ERA THAT THREATEN ITS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND DOMESTIC SUSTAINABILITY RELATED TO MARKET CONCENTRATION, PEST RESISTANCE AND CLIMATE CHANGES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE MULTIFACETED ISSUES BY PROPOSING AND RIGOROUSLY ASSESSING POTENTIAL POLICY SOLUTIONS. WE EMPHASIZE INNOVATION, REVISITING PATENT PROTECTION SYSTEMS, AND STREAMLINING THE SUPPLY CHAIN AS KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR STRATEGY. WE ADVOCATE POLICIES PROMOTING INNOVATION IN THE SEED MARKET BY SIMPLIFYING REGULATORY APPROVALS AND OFFERING FINANCIAL SUPPORT. WE ALSO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING MANDATORY CROSS-LICENSING AGREEMENTS, INSPIRED BY SUCCESSFUL MODELS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES (SUCH AS THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY), TO FOSTER COMPETITION. IN ADDITION, WE EVALUATE INITIATIVES LIKE THE OPEN-SOURCE SEED IN ENCOURAGING THE FREE EXCHANGE OF SEEDS AMONG STAKEHOLDERS, BACKED BY GOVERNMENT PROTECTIVE POLICIES. TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, WE WILL CONSTRUCT A COMPREHENSIVE DATASET ON SEED MARKET, PRODUCTIVITY, INNOVATION, PEST INFESTATION AND RESISTANCE, WEATHER AND CLIMATE, AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND ADOPT ADVANCED ECONOMIC ANALYSIS METHOD TO ANALYZE FARMER DEMAND, FIRM SUPPLY, AND FIRM INNOVATION IN THE SEED MARKET. OUR ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS LEVERAGES PROPRIETARY DATASETS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION, PROVIDING ROBUST EVIDENCE TO INFORM POLICYMAKERS AND ENGAGE THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. WE ADDRESS CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND SEEK TO SECURE THE FUTURE SUCCESS AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP OF THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.