182 



STRENGTHENING THE W.D INFRASTRUCIVRE 8^ 



Research Council's Board on Agriculture and the Office of Technology As- 

 sessment (OTA) of the United States Congress. In 1989, the NRC issued 

 a repon, Inveshng in Research: A Pmposal to Sirenglhen the Agricultural, 

 Food, and Environmental System, which pointed out that agriculture pro- 

 ductivity and environmental quality go hand-in-hand. '^ The NRC 

 identified several issues of concern, including contamination of surface water 

 and groundn-ater by natural and chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and sedi- 

 ment; the continued abuse of fragile and nutrient-poor soils; and suitable 

 disposal of industrial and agricultural wastes. 



The NRC panel recommended a major increase in support for re- 

 search related to the contamination of surface water and groundwater by 

 contaminants from agricultural production. It also recommended additional 

 research on soil erosion in order to develop new ways to "estimate erosion, 

 decrease displacement of soils by wind and water, and develop federal policies 

 for conserving fragile lands," and expanded research programs related to 

 the minimization of agricultural wastes, the development of new waste re- 

 cycling technologies, and improved systems for ecologically safe waste dis- 

 posal systems. 



The NRC also called for expanding research suppon for agriculture, 

 food, and the environment by $500 million annually, with the bulk of this 

 increase supporting competitive grants administered through USDA's Com- 

 petitive Research Grants Office. It proposed expanded competitive grant 

 programs in six areas, including natural resources and the environment. This 

 program area should focus on "fundamental structures and functions of eco- 

 systems, biological and physical bases of sustainable production systems; 

 minimizing soil and water losses and sustainable surface and groundwater 

 quality; global climatic effects on agriculture, forestry, and biological diversity." 



In its study, OTA concluded that broad changes in the basic orga- 

 nizational system of USDA are needed to improve agricultural research. It 

 pointed out that USDA lacks a research mission statement, shon-term and 

 long-term planning, mechanisms for setting priorities, and appropriate 

 funding. In OTA's view, the best solution for improving agricultural research 

 is increased appropriations for research combined with a mission-oriented 

 approach to R&D. The major components of this system include a clearly 

 aniculatcd, mission-oriented agricultural research and extension policy; a 

 structured, integrated, and coordinated planning system; and a combina- 

 tion of formula and competitive grants.'^ 



The 1991 Appropriations Committee hearings suggest that Congress 

 has largely adopted the initiative suggested by the National Research Council. 

 In 1991, the Cooperative State Research Service requested $115 million in 

 research funds, of which approximately 11 percent was targeted to environ- 

 mental research. However, many of the structural and organizational prob- 



