The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its data strategy for fiscal years (FY) 2024 through 2026, with the mission “to realize the full potential of USDA’s data and workforce to make better decisions, maximize the impact of citizen-facing programs, and provide the public with easier access to data that can solve national problems and spark innovation.”
The FY24-26 USDA Data Strategy builds on the agency’s existing data strategy developed in 2019 and updates data-related goals to meet evolving needs and expectations for departmental data, the document reads.
“We’ve made notable progress since the publication of the first USDA Data Strategy three years ago to be a data-driven and evidence-based organization. Data is more important than ever for the success of USDA’s mission,” USDA Chief Data Officer Chris Alvares said in a statement. “Data enables us to measure USDA’s progress, assess the impact of our initiatives, and course-correct when needed. It ensures our actions are rooted in evidence and guided by the best interests of those we serve.”
The new 20-page strategy contains five areas of focus: data governance and leadership, data and analytics workforce, common data and analytics, open data architecture, and purposeful analytics.
The fifth goal – purposeful analytics – is a new goal from the USDA’s first data strategy.
“USDA will intentionally adapt to and invest in analytics processes, techniques, and products to inform decision-making for key business questions,” the fifth goal states.
A common theme across all five pillars includes modernizing select USDA data operations and upskilling the existing workforce. USDA said cost efficiency is also a priority as it works to convert to a more advanced digital workspace.
Leveraging automated and machine learning technology is also part of the FY24-26 data plan, with priority placed on the ethical and responsible usage of AI systems to improve data analytics.
The agency also aims to marry data transparency with more public-government collaboration through improvements and public access to USDA data via new dashboards and resources.
“The power of data in shaping the future of food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and nutrition cannot be overstated,” USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack said in a statement. “Through robust data collection, analysis, and accessibility, we unlock the keys to a thriving agricultural sector and we ensure that our policies, programs, and investments are grounded in evidence and tailored to the needs of our farmers, ranchers, and consumers.”
In the coming months, USDA said it will translate the goals and objectives from the new strategy into an implementation plan and roadmap. The department also plans to implement a monitoring system to drive accountability and ensure it moves towards its strategic goals.
