U.S. Food and Agriculture Sector Reaches EUR9.6tn in Economic Value, Report Finds

The tenth annual Feeding the Economy report highlights the continued scale and resilience of the U.S. food and agriculture sector, which generated EUR9.6tn in economic value in 2026, equivalent to nearly 20% of the national economy.

Published by a coalition of 35 industry organisations, the report tracks the full farm-to-fork supply chain, including farming, processing, manufacturing, distribution, retail and foodservice.

Employment and wages remain strong

The sector supports approximately 48.7 million jobs, including 24.3 million direct roles. While direct employment has increased by 6.5% over the past decade, growth slowed over the past year as parts of the industry faced inflationary and operational pressures.

Total wages across the sector exceeded EUR2.8tn, rising 4% year-on-year and 13% over the past decade, generally outpacing inflation.

Food manufacturing remains the largest manufacturing segment in the U.S., employing more than 2.28 million people—underlining its importance within the broader value chain, including bakery production.

Trade and tax contributions

Exports of U.S. food and agricultural products reached EUR163bn, although this represents a year-on-year decline of around EUR5bn, reflecting ongoing global trade uncertainties.

Meanwhile, the sector generated EUR1.25tn in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments, up 7% compared to the previous year.

Bakery sector linkage to domestic supply

According to American Bakers Association, commercial bakers source around 85% of their core ingredients domestically, supporting close integration with U.S. agriculture. The baking industry itself contributes nearly 800,000 jobs nationwide.

Emerging pressures across the value chain

Despite strong headline figures, the report points to mounting challenges. Employment in primary agriculture and food manufacturing remained largely flat year-on-year, highlighting pressure on producers and rural communities.

In addition, export values have declined in inflation-adjusted terms over the past decade, reinforcing the need for stable trade agreements and improved market access.

Overall, the findings underline the continued economic weight of the food and agriculture sector, while signalling structural challenges that could shape investment and policy decisions across the value chain, including bakery manufacturing.