Innovative USDA research to strengthen benefits of nutrition assistance programs
New research efforts supported by USDA, as well as NIH, are critical to develop the evidence base and collaborations to further augment the positive impacts of large federal investments in nutrition assistance (∼$100 billion/y). Such research must, for example, delineate and address the tremendous increases in food insecurity, associated economic disruptions, and nutrition-related health disparities stemming from COVID-19. Now is the time to expand our understanding of the best approaches to increase the public health impacts of our suite of 15 federal nutrition assistance programs. This approach can include, for instance, new USDA-supported pilots and waivers to evaluate innovations that better support healthier eating in SNAP (e.g., healthy retail approaches, healthy food incentives combined with disincentives, online purchasing technologies) (13, 341). Further critical research needs include how USDA's nutrition assistance programs can be better integrated and coordinated with other federal and state programs, in particular Medicaid and Medicare, to improve diet-related health outcomes (13). These translational research investments will help address the varying geographic, contextual, and cultural needs of Americans and ensure the most effective outcomes from these essential federal programs.