Investing in Research A Proposal to Strengthen the Agricultural, Food, and Environmental System (1989) / Chapter Skim
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1 Executive Summary
1 Executive Summary
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From page 1... ...
The ability of the United States to resolve the spectrum of issues and related problems in agriculture nutrition, economics and international trade, production efficiency, natural resources conservation, control of pollutants, and others-depends on depth of knowledge, the available tools and technologies, and the skill and insight to apply them. The United States needs to invest in the future-in human capital and the scientific knowledge base-to revitalize and reinvigorate one of its leading industries, the agricultural, food, and environmental system, in its broadest sense.
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This fact is significant because accumulating evidence indicates that a growing number of contaminants from agricultural production are found in underground water supplies. Although research is being conducted in these areas, a major increase in support will be required to adequately investigate and INVESTING IN RESEARCH apply new knowledge and technologies to curtail surface water and groundwater contamination.
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· Animal Systems: cellular and molecular basis of animal reproduction, growth, disease, and health; identification of genes responsible for improved production traits and resistance to disease; improved nutritional performance of animals; and improved nutrient qualities of animal products. · Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health: microbial contaminants and pesticide residues related to human health; links between diet and health; bioavailability of nutrients; postharvest physiology and practices; and improved processing technologies.
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Principal investigator grants are the foundation of the highly successful competitive grants programs in the United States, and they are the major way to attract and retain talented scientists and their students into areas of research.
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Agricultural research characteristically gives a high annual return on investment, more than 45 percent (Fox et al., 1987~. The contributions of research conducted within the competitive grants program will, in addition, bring advances not only to agriculture, food, and the environment but also to other scientific disciplines and other sectors of society.
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It is the entity best suited to administer the agricultural, food, and environmental competitive grants program. The competitive grants program will warrant status as an independent office within USDA's Office of Science and Education, setting its administrator on a par with the administrators of the Agricultural Research Service, Cooperative State Research Service, and Extension Service as the managers of USDA's science, education, and training activities.
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From page 7... ...
Sufficient funding over an adequate period of time is the best way to attract talented scientists from a variety of disciplines. The expanded competitive grants program will more adequately support researchers within the agricultural research system and will also open the system to scientists from other disciplines who have not previously participated in the USDA grants program.
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From page 8... ...
Many of the new scientific opportunities that require costly supplies and instrumentation will have to remain unexplored, and few multidisciplinary research teams will be able to be formed to attack the multifaceted problems of competitiveness, food quality, and natural resources confronting agriculture. The proposed increase in funding for competitive research grants is justified.
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From page 9... ...
agriculture, one that will ensure its worldwide leadership role in the coming decades. As aleader, the United States calls upon its agricul 9 tural and food system to compete in a free-market world.
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