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2. Q. A goal of the PVPA was to focus public expenditures in 

 plant breeding on areas likely to be ignored by private 

 industry -- minor crops and basic research. How much does USDA 

 spend in plant breeding research? Please provide information 

 indicating the expenditures by crop and region and whether the 

 amount and focus changed since enactment of the PVPA. 



A. We are unable to make a detailed response on how current 

 funding levels correspond to 1970, the year the Plant Variety 

 Protection Act was enacted, but we believe there has been no 

 major shift over the last 23 years in the relative funding level 

 for plant genetic and breeding research. There has, however, 

 been a reduction in variety development programs on certain 

 crops, specifically corn, wheat, cotton, alfalfa, and tomatoes. 

 The private sector has taken the lead in developing improved 

 varieties of these crops. While we are unable to provide a 

 detailed breakdown of genetic and breeding programs by region, we 

 have no reason to believe it has changed substantially over the 

 last 23 years. A listing of FY 1993 gross funding for plant 

 genetic and breeding programs on specific crops is attached. 



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