MAHA: Three Things to Watch in 2026

MAHA, Make America Healthy Again, will influence America’s food system in 2026, although it may be too early to know how deeply. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Junior, has made a host of claims about ultra-processed foods, synthetic dyes, and pesticides and discussed thematic changes to better promote good health in Americans, especially children.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 that created the MAHA Commission. It tasked commission members, led by Secretary Kennedy, to assess the U.S. health and food systems, with a particular focus on chronic diseases and their links to diet, chemical exposures, and highly processed food consumption.

The Commission’s foundational report — the Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment — attributed rising childhood chronic diseases to ultra-processed foods and chemical exposures.

RELATED: Natalie Kovarik -- a Nebraska cattle rancher and former pharmacist who hosts the “Discover Ag Podcast” – told American Farmland Owner why she has mixed feelings about the early MAHA movement.  

The Trump administration has launched three initiatives that could impact farmers, ranchers, consumers, and the supply chain system in the future.

1. USDA Launches $700 Million Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program

Enhanced soil-health practices and reduced reliance on synthetic inputs are the primary drivers of the USDA’s new $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program. The initiative — emphasized in the MAHA report — consolidates applications for key conservation programs and supports practices aimed at improving soil quality and water health while helping farmers transition away from conventional chemical-intensive production.

This pilot aims to provide farmers with what MAHA leaders call an “off-ramp” from certain synthetic fertilizers and inputs while maintaining productivity. It also promises to reduce administrative burdens by allowing growers to submit just one application for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservative Stewardship Program (CSP).

American Farmland Owner What to Watch: Will the initiative eventually lead to voluntary or mandatory reduction of farm pesticides and fertilizers?

2. MAHA Strategy Report

In September 2025, the MAHA Commission released a comprehensive strategy report with more than 100 recommendations spanning research priorities, incentive realignment, public awareness, and food supply changes.

The proposals could limit or prohibit petroleum-based food dyes and other food chemicals, create a federal government-wide definition of ultra-processed foods and updated nutrition labeling standards, and reform policies for food ingredients.

American Farmland Owner What to Watch: Will the administration ban certain food dyes and chemicals, or will it suggest voluntary compliance? How will a new definition for ultra-processed foods affect the production system and policy payment support for farmers? How will new food nutrition labeling standards impact school nutrition programs?

3. Federal Nutrition Guidelines & SNAP Restrictions

The Trump administration has encouraged waivers for states to restrict purchases of food and drinks considered less healthy for the one in eight Americans who use the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The administration has approved 18 waivers for states to enact changes, which vary from state to state. Among the items most commonly restricted for purchases through SNAP are soft drinks, energy drinks, candy, and gum.

American Farmland Owner What to Watch: How will SNAP restrictions affect corn refiners if 12% of the population can’t use federal benefits to buy some of their products?