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overview
Advances in agricultural productivity
have led to abundant and affordable food and fiber throughout most
of the developed world. Public and private agricultural
research has been the foundation and basis for much of this
growth and development. Technology transfer holds promise for improving
incomes and welfare throughout the world. The major goals of this
ERS research program are to quantify productivity improvements,
and the sources of improvement, and to investigate the direction
and efficiency of the public and private sectors in enhancing the
stock of agricultural knowledge and in developing new technologies.
More overview...
feature
Are Changes
in the U.S. Seed Industry Affecting Research Effort?—The
unprecedented growth in U.S. agricultural productivity over the
past 70 years owes much to a series of biological innovations embodied
in major crop seeds, in particular cotton, corn, soybeans, and wheat.
These innovations are the result of the investment of considerable
time and money into plant breeding research and development (R&D).
However, the seed sector has changed: seed R&D has moved from
being predominately public to predominately private, innovation
protection is now pervasive, and the private seed industry has become
highly concentrated. This article examines the extent of this shift
in R&D from the public to the private domain and whether or
not the shift is positively or negatively affecting research effort,
and potentially agricultural productivity growth. (1/04)
Science and
Technology Hold Promise for Developing Countries in the 21st Century
—Many technological advances in the last century have increased
agricultural production, but all world regions have not benefited
equally. Public and private investments in the development and dissemination
of innovations could enhance the ability of developing countries
to achieve income growth and provide sufficient food for their populations.
(01/04)
recommended readings
Agricultural Resources
and Environmental Indicators—The Agricultural Research
and Development section of this report describes trends in public
and private R&D; (including biological innovations and intellectual
property rights), public-private collaboration, and the relationship
between changing industry structure and R&D.;
Agricultural Productivity in the
United States—This report describes and explains changes
in U.S. agricultural productivity—an important source of U.S.
economic growth—and its output and input, for 1948-94. Included
is technical information about the USDA system for calculating productivity.
Agricultural Research and Development:
Public and Private Investments Under Alternative Markets and Institutions—Stronger
intellectual property rights have increased incentives for private
investment in agricultural research, but key elements still require
direct public support. USDA is also developing new mechanisms for
public-private partnerships in agricultural research.
See all recommended readings...
recommended data products
Data that highlight
important information associated with ERS's research on agricultural
research and productivity.
Plant Breeding Research and Development—A
summary of, and data about, the growing and changing nature of plant
breeding activity in the United States. Based on a 1994 national
plant breeding study conducted by Dr. Ken Frey of Iowa State University,
the data provide the level of plant breeding effort (in terms of
staff years and estimated expenditures) in the U.S. by academia
and the public and private sector. The study is a comprehensive
accounting of national plant breeding efforts, and provides the
only national benchmark to compare current and/or future efforts
and developments in this critically important area of research.
Trends in Extension staffing—An
important part of the USDA agricultural research and education system
is Extension activities that deliver research findings to farmers.
One indicator of the level of Extension activities is the allocation
of personnel. This data product provides two datasets reflecting
Extension staffing.
See all recommended data...
recent research developments
Meetings, conferences, and activities
of ERS researchers in agricultural research and productivity.
related briefing rooms
Agricultural chemicals
and production technology
Agricutural biotechnology
Information policy
Traceability in the U.S. food
system
questions and answers
Important questions and answers on
issues of agricultural research and productivity.
related links
Current Research Information
System (CRIS) homepage -- Primary data base on public agricultural
research.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—Selective
access data, multifactor productivity trends data series.
See all related links...
for more information, contact:
Kelly Day-Rubenstein
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated:
August 17, 2004
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