Investing in Agricultural Research to Sustain Growth and Competitiveness of US Agriculture

Public investments in agricultural research and development (R&D) have been a major driver of long-term productivity growth and competitiveness of US agriculture. Unfortunately, resources for public agricultural R&D have been declining in real terms, with annual spending down by about one-third from its peak in 2002; the US has fallen behind other major competitor nations in spending on agricultural R&D. To secure the country's agricultural future, the first policy priority is to increase Federal funding for agricultural R&D.

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