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Industry urges Congress to give FGIS new authorities and funding to speed adoption of imaging and other inspection technologies
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Summary
Industry groups, official agencies and academics told a House subcommittee that modern imaging, near-infrared and other tools could make official grain inspection faster and more objective, but the Federal Grain Inspection Service needs statutory flexibilities, cooperative R&D authority and predictable funding to deploy them.
During a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing, witnesses from industry, official agencies and academia urged Congress to give the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) statutory tools and funding to accelerate research, validation and deployment of modern grain-grading technologies.
"FGIS must prioritize research, development, and validation of modern grain grading technologies that improve accuracy, speed, and consistency," said Nick Friant of Cargill and the National Grain and Feed Association. Friant told the committee that new tools could reduce human error, address staffing shortages and lower costs across the supply chain.
Kia Mickish, president of the American Association of Grain Inspection and Weighing Agencies (AGWA), called for a modest toolbox of authorities for FGIS, including clarification that official agencies may be leveraged for R&D and authority to use "other transactions" to partner with private developers. "We need to be able to work flexibly with the private sector to find solutions to our unique problems and foster the conditions necessary for investors to take risks in our field," she said.
Witnesses described several practical technical goals: high-resolution visual imaging to detect damaged kernels, near-infrared or composition analysis to assess protein and oil, and integrated systems that combine multiple sensors. Kevin Donnelly, emeritus professor at Kansas State University, said imaging could make inspection careers more attractive to younger workers and help address workforce shortages if proven reliable.
Panelists described existing private-sector engagement and a recent industry "innovation summit" where exporters, official agencies and technology providers began evaluating candidate systems. Friant said NGFA has engaged at least one technology provider to test visual imaging for damage assessment, and AGWA noted ongoing cooperative agreements with FGIS to pilot instruments.
Witnesses cautioned that new tools require standardized data and rigorous validation. Mickish warned that visual grading depends on tightly controlled sampling, lighting and sample presentation; she said good input leads to good output for instrumentation models. To overcome barriers, panelists recommended statutory clarity on agency participation in R&D, more flexible contracting authorities, and targeted appropriations or incentives to de-risk development.
Committee members pressed witnesses on how technology would be validated, the timeline for usable results and the expected cost and staffing impacts. Witnesses stressed phased pilots, interagency collaboration and close oversight by FGIS to ensure that any technology used for official grading is as reliable or better than current methods.
