EPA Awarded $15 Million for PFAS Farm Research
The EPA is funding studies to track how forever chemicals move through crops and livestock across the United States.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Should the federal government increase funding for research on chemical contaminants in the food supply?
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $15 million in research grants to study the movement of PFAS chemicals in agricultural environments. This effort focuses on understanding how these substances accumulate in livestock and crops.
Why it matters
Understanding how PFAS chemicals permeate the food supply is a critical step in managing potential long-term health risks for consumers. The research aims to provide data on how these forever chemicals move through agricultural systems.
The EPA provided $15 million in total funding for these research efforts. Michigan State University and the University of Illinois-Urbana each received nearly $1.6 million to conduct their respective studies.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
This federal agency is responsible for human health and environmental protection in the United States.
Michigan State University
This public research university in Michigan is one of the institutions receiving federal grant funding for PFAS research.
University of Illinois-Urbana
This public research institution in Illinois is conducting studies on subsurface tile-drained fields.
Lee Zeldin
He is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who visited a Michigan superfund site during the weekend of the announcement.
The details
Michigan State University will focus on PFAS accumulation and mitigation strategies on farms, while the University of Illinois-Urbana will examine how to prevent chemical uptake in crops irrigated with sewage. Both versions of the federal farm bill currently identify PFAS as a high-priority research area.
Timeline
The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the grants in September 2026.
Lee Zeldin visited a superfund site in Michigan the weekend of September 26-27, 2026.
Culture Shift
The research on PFAS follows a mandate established by the federal farm bill, which is the foundational legislation for agricultural policy. These projects reflect a growing nationwide shift toward prioritizing food safety and environmental chemical mitigation.
This research may eventually lead to new safety guidelines that influence how agricultural products are monitored for chemical contamination. For the average consumer, these studies represent a long-term effort to ensure that the food supply remains free from environmental toxins.
The takeaway
These grants represent a significant investment in securing the integrity of the national food supply against persistent chemicals. Consumers should stay informed as researchers develop new mitigation strategies that could shape future agricultural practices.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving standards in the food industry by visiting Organic Food.
Live Poll
Should the federal government increase funding for research on chemical contaminants in the food supply?
