Final answer:
The USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is the key agency providing research and funding in US agricultural biotechnology, offering federal grants to tackle significant agricultural challenges and fostering collaboration between various institutions for innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government agency that has been the driving force behind research and funding advances in US agricultural biotechnology is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Specifically, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) at the USDA awards federal grants to projects that address the most significant agricultural challenges, such as food safety and childhood obesity. This initiative is critical in providing the necessary support for research that might not otherwise happen without government assistance.
Through these efforts, cooperation between government-funded universities, academies, and the private sector can lead to product innovation and the creation of new industries, further emphasizing the importance of the USDA's role in advancing agricultural biotechnology.