Agricultural Research

Refocusing Priorities to Meet Current Concerns Gao ID: T-RCED-94-45 October 7, 1993

The nation's agricultural research system began in 1887 with the creation of agricultural experiment stations. For almost a century, the system's goal was to boost productivity. Today, however, the system is being asked to respond to a host of new goals, such as finding ways to minimize agriculture's impact on the environment, improve human nutrition, increase market demand, and develop rural economies. If the system's priorities are to be redirected, a number a structural impediments will have to be overcome. This testimony provides an overview of (1) the current structure and budget for agricultural research, (2) the new agricultural research objectives that have been introduced in recent years, and (3) factors that have inhibited refocusing of the research agenda on these new objectives.



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.