Future of the Agriculture Research Enterprise.

The United States is the undisputed world leader in agricultural production today, but as we look out across the 21st century, agriculture faces a series of challenges including: 1) managing new pests, pathogens, and invasive plants; 2) increasing the efficiency of water use; 3) reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture; 4) growing food in a changing climate; 5) managing the production of bioenergy; 6) producing safe and nutritious food; and 7) assisting with global food security and maintaining abundant yields.  Meeting these challenges requires a renewed commitment to research, innovation, and technology development in agriculture. Private industry will continue to play an important role meeting these challenges in areas directly related to commercial developments and commodities. But many of the developments necessary to meet these challenges are public goods and not easily monetized. These challenges require a strong public commitment to agricultural research, one that fosters a culture of innovation and excellence to address some of the greatest threats to U.S. long­term prosperity and security.