Direct the Secretaries of Defense and Agriculture to establish a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate advanced research efforts on protecting the U.S. agrifood system from domestic and national security threats.

The legislation directs the Secretaries of Defense and Agriculture to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate advanced research efforts by modernizing overall procedures and focusing upon protecting the United States agrifood system from emerging domestic and national security threats.

Messmer introduced legislation requiring DOD and USDA to formalize cooperation on research protecting the agrifood system from security threats.

Messmer Introduces Legislation to Strengthen American Agricultural and National Security Collaboration | U.S. Representative Mark Messmer
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

Messmer introduced the Department of Defense and USDA Interagency Research Act, which strengthens America’s agricultural supply chains and overall national security by fostering collaboration between DOD and USDA on high-risk, high-reward research initiatives.

He committed to formal DOD-USDA research collaboration on agrifood and national security issues.

Latest News | U.S. Representative Mark Messmer
secondary · other · model gpt-5.4-mini

Sponsor: Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8] (Introduced 02/12/2026) ... To provide for Department of Defense and Department of Agriculture joint research and development activities, and for other purposes. ... Latest Action: House - 02/12/2026 Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture...

Messmer introduced the underlying bill that directly matches the claim’s core directive: a DOD-USDA joint research framework coordinated through interagency action. The bill was introduced but only referred to committees, so this is concrete legislative action but not enactment or implementation.

unresolved unknown A for effort

H.R.7547 - To provide for Department of Defense and Department of Agriculture joint research and development activities, and for other purposes. | Congress.gov
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

"(C) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense ..." ... "(D) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—In addition to the memoranda of understanding with Federal agencies described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary shall, as appropriate, enter into memoranda of understanding with the heads of other Federal agencies to coordinate the activities under paragraph (1)."

The contemporaneous committee-draft text shows Congress considered a related DOD-agriculture coordination model with an explicit memorandum-of-understanding structure and research-security provisions. It supports the policy concept, but it is not Messmer’s bill and does not show delivery of the specific claim.

unresolved unknown

H.R.7567 - Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 | Congress.gov bill text (GPO PDF)
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 76%

Congressmen Don Davis (NC-01) and Mark Messmer (IN-08) introduced H.R. 7547... This bipartisan legislation directs the Secretaries of Defense and Agriculture to coordinate advanced research efforts, modernize procedures, and strengthen protections for the nation’s agrifood system against emerging domestic and national security threats.

This official member-office release states the claim almost verbatim and confirms Messmer’s active introduction of the bill. It shows effort toward the objective, but only at the bill-introduction stage, not delivery or implementation.

unresolved unknown A for effort

Congressman Don Davis Co-Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Food Security and National Defense | Representative Don Davis
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 96%

The 2026 Farm Bill ... includes ... Creation of a food supply chain defense research system through the DOD and USDA Interagency Research Act.

Messmer’s office says the House Agriculture Committee passed a farm bill package that includes the DOD-USDA interagency research system. That indicates advancement of the proposal in committee, but it is still not final enactment or evidence that the memorandum of understanding has been established.

partial unknown A for effort

Messmer Celebrates the 2026 Farm Bill | U.S. Representative Mark Messmer
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 89%