99 



proven and appropriate mechanism to stimulate new research in 

 high-priority areas of science and engineering. It is flexible, 

 reaches a large pool of talented scientists, and provides a 

 balance to the overall research program, thereby ensuring high- 

 quality research. 



Responsiveness and flexibility in altering the direction of 

 exploratory research are critical to maintaining scientific 

 excellence. A competitive grants program capitalizes on the 

 skills and experiences of leading scientists in recognizing the 

 need for new directions in science. Because funding commitments 

 to any one project are for only 3 years to 5 years, this 

 mechanism is flexible and responsive to rapid advancements in 

 science, thereby allowing resources to be targeted at the most 

 promising areas of scientific research in each grant cycle. Open 

 competition and critical review by scientific peers helps secure 

 scientific excellence. 



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. These scientists should be, but are not now, 

 applying their skills to agricultural research. 



An expanded competitive grants program will provide the 

 needed balance among the funding mechanisms that support USDA's 

 R&D: intramural programs, formula funding, special grants, and 

 competitive grants. Competitive grants are a significant source 

 of funding within other federal agencies. At the National 

 Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation 

 (NSF) , well in excess of three-fourths of R&D support, 

 respectively, is distributed through competitive research grants. 

 USDA should not, however, attempt to mirror NIH and NSF in the 

 proportion of funds it distributes on a competitive basis. For 

 example, problems specific to certain crops, technologies, and 

 regions are often best addressed through formula funds or special 

 grants. Long-range research, such as the development of improved 

 plant and animal gemplasms, or tracking of the diets and 

 nutritional status of a group of children as they grow, for 

 example, are more effectively supported on a continuing basis 

 through intramural funding. 



Putur* of th« Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture 



The Board on Agriculture proposes to undertake a three-part 

 project, an examination of the land grant colleges of agriculture 

 — and related units for natural resources, human ecology, and 

 veterinary medicine — and the ways in which their tripartite 



