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Executive Summary 



This is the technological age. It is also an age of 

 opportunity. U.S. agriculture continuously evolves, 

 but the pace of change is now more dramatic than ever. 

 In the life sciences, new knowledge and instnimenia- 

 tion are rapidly expanding the understanding of plants, 

 animals, and microbes; providing new opportunities 

 to control disease and pests; and improving the quality 

 of agricultural and food products. Equally complex 

 changes are occurring in international trade, where the 

 new rules of the global mailcetplace are transforming 

 old patterns of competition. 



In the agricultural system, as with other segments 

 of U.S. industry, the problems of the twenty-first 

 century intensify more quickly than ever before, and 

 opportunities mustbe seized immediately . before their 

 peak ofpotential benefit has passed. The ability of the 

 United Stales to resolve the spectrum of issues and 

 related problems in agriculture — nutrition, econom- 

 ics 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 indus- 

 tries, the agricultural, food, and environmental sys- 

 tem, in its broadest sense. A sound investment strat- 

 egy for research is fundamental to sustain economic 

 performance, to respond competitively to the increased 

 economic strengths and manufacturing capacities of 

 other nations, and to maintain the U.S. quality of life. 

 The commitment called for in this proposal should 

 therefore be part of a national agenda to strengthen the 

 United States. 



URGENCY FOR CHANGE 



Major challenges confronting the nation now cen- 

 ter on the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural prod- 

 ucts in global trade, the safety and quality of the U.S. 

 food supply, and the management and sustainability 

 of the country's natural resources. 



Competitiveness 



The United States faces new and aggressive com- 

 petition from abroad. The balance of trade has gone 

 from positive to negative, making the United States a 

 debtor nation. The strong role that agricultural exports 

 played in the U.S. balance of payments has weakened. 

 U.S . global competitiveness in agricultural commodi- 

 ties and food products has eroded because of increased 

 costs of production at home and heightened competi- 

 tion from foreign producers in the mailcetplace. Given 

 the high U.S. production capacity, regular surpluses of 

 major commodities, and the imperative of deficit 

 reduction, the needs for profitable new uses for agri- 

 cultural products, more cost-efficient production, and 

 new markets remain high. 



Human Health and Well-Being 



Nutritious and high-quality food is available to 

 U.S. citizens. However, problems are arising that 

 must be resolved, such as excessive fat in the diet, the 

 incidence of microbial contamination, and pesticide 

 residues on food. 



U.S. citizens consume too many saturated fats. 

 Although red meat and dairy products provide 36 



