Investing in Research -- Copyright -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Investing in Research -- 1 Executive Summary -- URGENCY FOR CHANGE -- Competitiveness -- Human Health and Well-Being -- Natural Resources and the Environment -- New Knowledge -- THE PROPOSAL -- An Expanded Public Investment -- Program Areas and Scientific Scope -- Grant Types -- Attention to Multidisciplinary Research -- Strengthening Institutions and Human Resources -- Size and Duration of Support -- RATIONALE FOR THE PROPOSAL -- A Federal Initiative -- A 500 Million Increase -- Support with New Money -- The Central Role of USDA -- Competitive Grants -- FISCAL REALITIES -- Trade-Offs -- Redirection within the USDA Research Budget -- Reinvesting Subsidy Savings -- Federal Investment -- Investing Now -- CONCLUSION -- 2 The Proposal -- AN EXPANDED PUBLIC INVESTMENT -- PROGRAM AREAS AND SCIENTIFIC SCOPE -- TYPES OF GRANTS -- ATTENTION TO MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH -- STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES -- SIZE AND DURATION OF SUPPORT -- NOTES -- 3 Rationale for the Proposal -- A FEDERAL INITIATIVE -- State Sector -- Private Sector -- Level of Effort -- Prospects for Growth -- Focus of Private Sector R&D -- Diffusion of R&D Results -- Federal Sector -- A 500 MILLION INCREASE -- Investing in Agriculture -- Adequacy of Funding -- Size and Duration of Grants -- Number and Size of Grants by Type -- Availability of Scientists -- SUPPORT WITH NEW MONEY -- Consequences of the Lack of R&D Growth -- State-Federal Partnership -- Fiscal Realities -- Trade-Offs -- Redirection within the USDA Research Budget -- Investment of Subsidy Savings -- Investment Using Non-USDA Funds -- Investment Now -- A CENTRAL ROLE FOR USDA -- Linkages with ARS -- Linkages with State Agricultural Experiment Stations -- Linkages with the Cooperative Extension Service.

Linkages with Other Federal Agencies -- THE ROLE OF COMPETITIVE GRANTS -- Federal R&D Funding Mechanisms -- Intramural Funding -- Formula Funding -- Special Grants -- Competitive Grants -- FY 1988 Distribution of Funds -- The Advantages of Competitive Grants -- Responsiveness and Flexibility -- Talent and Openness -- Balance among Funding Mechanisms -- ATTENTION TO MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH -- STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES -- NOTE -- 4 Challenges Facing the Research System -- COMPETITIVENESS AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE -- International Agricultural Trade and Markets -- Policy Context -- Issues -- National Economic Performance -- Needing and Using Policy -- Developing New Uses and Markets for Agricultural and Forest Products -- Developing Value-Added Products -- Reducing Producer and Processor Costs -- Challenges -- HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING -- Designing Food Products for Improved Health -- Challenges -- Food Safety -- Pestecide Residues -- Challenges -- Microbiological Contamination -- Challenges -- Risk Assessment and Management -- Challenges -- NATURAL RESOURCES STEWARDSHIP -- Water Quality and Quantity -- Challenges -- Challenges -- Soil Resources -- Challenges -- Global Atmospheric Change -- Challenges -- Biological and Genetic Diversity -- Challenges -- Ecosystem Structure and Function -- Challenges -- Pests and Pesticides -- Challenges -- Waste Management -- Challenges -- 5 Program Areas and Scientific Opportunities -- PROGRAM AREAS -- PLANT SYSTEMS -- Genetics and Diversity -- Plant Developmental Biology -- Energy, Carbon Metabolism, and Minerals -- Plant and Pest Interactions -- Ecology and Plant Populations -- Waste Management -- Plant Production Economics -- ANIMAL SYSTEMS -- Cellular Growth and Development -- Genetics and Reproduction -- Molecular Basis of Disease -- Uses of Animal Wastes.

Animal Production Systems and Economics -- NUTRITION, FOOD QUALITY, AND HEALTH -- New Dimensions of Nutritional and Food Sciences -- Food Contaminants and Microbial Hazards -- Food Biotechnology -- Designing Foods for Optimal Nutrition and Safety -- Quality Specifications, Processing, and Health -- Packaging and Distribution Methods -- NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT -- Water Quality and Water Management -- Quality and Productivity of Soils and Land Use -- Effect of Environment on Agricultural Productivity -- Atmospheric and Climatic Change -- Biological and Genetic Diversity -- Forests, Rangelands, and Wildlife -- Development of a Land Ethic -- ENGINEERING, PRODUCTS, AND PROCESS -- Water Quality and Management -- Sensors -- Computing and Information Management -- Bioengineering -- Bioprocessing -- Innovation in Equipment Manufacturing -- Production Efficiency and Resource Conservation -- MARKETS, TRADE, AND POLICY -- Markets and Trade -- Technological Innovation and Value-Added Products -- Economic Performance -- Rural Development -- RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROGRAM AREAS AND RECOGNIZED PRIORITIES -- RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE SIX MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES, AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES -- SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET PRIORITIES -- Responding to USDA's Missions -- Strengthening the Science and Technology Infrastructure -- Targeting National Priorities -- Supporting Major Science and Technology Initiatives -- CONCLUSION -- 6 Institutional and Administrative Issues -- PROGRAM'S LOCATION IN USDA -- Option I: Major Unit within the Office of Science and Education -- Option II: Retention within the Cooperative State Research Service -- Option III: Creation of a Separate Institute -- PROGRAM TRANSITIONS -- Program Planning and Advisory Committees -- The Peer Review Process -- Administrative Changes.

NEED TO MANAGE FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY SUCCESS -- PROGRAM EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY -- Appendixes -- A Public and Private Sector Programs and Funding Trends -- Federal R&D Expenditures by Agency and Area of Science -- Research Shares by Area of Science -- U.S. Department of Agriculture Expenditure Levels, Trends, and Priorities -- Major Shifts in USDA Budget Priorities -- Overview of the Publicly Funded R&D System -- Agricultural Research Service -- Economic Research Service -- U.S. Forest Service -- State Agricultural Experiment Stations -- Competitive Research Grants Office -- Extension Service -- Combined USDA Funding Trends -- Higher Education Activities in USDA -- B Private Sector Research Activities and Prospects -- Private R&D Support By Area Of Technology -- Trends In Public And Private Sector Research Focus -- Private Sector Capacity To Increase R&D -- Pesticide Industry -- Seed Industry -- Fertilizer Industry -- Machinery -- Livestock Industry -- Veterinary Services -- Factors Influencing Private Sector R&D -- Corporate Consolidation -- C Setting and Acting Upon Budget Priorities -- Current Priority-Setting Mechanisms -- Congressional Budget Actions -- Specificity of Program Guidance by the U.S. Congress Through the Appropriations Process -- D Statements of Program Objectives and Funding Response -- Agricultural Research Service -- Joint Council for Food and Agricultural Sciences -- Users Advisory Board -- Agency Budget Recommendations -- Agricultural Research Service -- Cooperative State Research Service -- Economic Research Service -- Extension Service -- U.S. Forest Service -- Human Nutrition Information Service -- National Agricultural Research Committee -- A Review of the Impact of Priority-Setting Mechanisms on Budget Allocations -- References.