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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 



THE PROPOSAL 



The purpose of this proposal — as well as the chal- 

 lenge it presents — is to mobilize the nation's scientific 

 and engineering communities to advance the quality 

 of agriculture, the food supply, and the environment 



This proposal presents a prognun to strengthen the 

 focus of U.S. science on agriculture. The premise is 

 that a judicious but substantial increase in research 

 funding through competitive grants is the best way to 

 sustain and strengthen the U.S. agricultural, food, and 

 environmental system. 



Implementation of this research proposal will 



• C^ture the proven high economic return on 

 investment in agricultural research. 



• Secure for agricultural research a full airay of 

 talent from the entire U.S. science and technology 

 research sector. 



• Expand knowledge in all the disciplines under- 

 pinning agriculture while also contributing to ad- 

 vances in other broad areas such as biomedicine, 

 ecology, engineering, education, and economics. 



This proposal, which is composed of the following 

 specific elements, should be evaluated as a singular 

 strategy for action. 



An Expanded Public Investment 



Research support for agriculture, food, 

 and the environment should be increased 

 by $500 million annually. This increase 

 should support competitive grants ad- 

 ministered through the US. Department 

 of Agriculture's Competitive Research 

 Grants Office. 



This competitive grants program should be in- 

 creased to support the need for research in public and 

 private universities and colleges; not-for-profit insti- 

 tutions; the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 

 (USDA's) Agricultural Research Service, Economic 

 Research Service, and U.S. Forest Service; and other 

 research agencies of the state and federal govern- 

 ments. 



Funds should come from new monies, not from the 

 redirection or reallocation of existing research and 

 education programs, including formula-funded pro- 

 grams. 



Program Areas and Scientific Scope 



The expanded proposed competitive 

 grants program should encompass all 

 science and technology relevant to re- 

 search needs for agriculture, food, and 

 the environment. To do this, six program 

 areas should be established: (1) plant 

 systems; (2) animal systems: (3) nutri- 

 tion .food quality, and health : (4) natural 

 resources and the environment: (5) engi- 

 neering, products, and processes: and (6) 

 markets, trade, and policy. 



Agriculture has vastly overgrown its early bounds 

 of planting and harvesting crops and nurturing live- 

 stock as sources of food and fiber. It is a major 

 influence on and component of industry, world trade, 

 and global ecology. The six program areas establish 

 a framework that will accommodate all areas of re- 

 search relating to agriculture, food, and the environ- 

 ment Research in the six program areas using all 

 relevant disciplines of science and technology is es- 

 sential to solve current and emerging problems. 



Examples of some of the major topics within the six 

 program areas are as follows. 



• Plant Systems: plant genome structure and func- 

 tion; molecular and cellular genetics and plant bio- 

 technology; plant-pest interactions and biocontrol 

 systems; crop plant response to environmental stresses; 

 improved nutrient qualities of plant products; and new 

 food and industrial uses of plant products. 



• Animal Systems: cellular and molecular basis of 

 animal reproduction, growth, disease, and health; 

 identification of genes responsible for improved pro- 

 duction traits and resistance to disease; improved 

 nutritional performaiKe of animals; and improved 

 nutrient qualities of animal products. 



• Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health: microbial 

 contaminants and pesticide residues related to human 

 health; links between diet and health; bioavailability 

 of nutrients; posiharvest physiology and practices; 

 and improved processing technologies. 



• NaturtU Resources and the Environment: funda- 

 mental structures and functions of ecosystems; bio- 

 logical and physical bases of sustainable production 

 systems; minimizing soil and water losses and sustain- 

 ing surface water and groundwater quality; global 

 climatic effects on agriculture; forestry; and biologi- 

 cal diversity. 



