Agriculture research is
changing, according to a study by economists working for the United States
Department of Agriculture.
They have found that:
- Globally, about half or
more of all private investment in food and agricultural research and
development has been devoted to food manufacturing rather than input
industries and other areas that directly increase agricultural production.
- Recent increases in
private agricultural input research have mostly centered on crops,
including farm machinery and some biofuels investments; livestock-related
research and crop protection chemicals have experienced less growth.
- Research into biofuels
has become increasingly important, with estimated global investments by
private companies at approximately $1.47 billion in 2009.
- In both crop seed and
animal breeding, biotechnology research was an important driver of
consolidation in these industries.
- Private spending
contributed to the overall growth in R&D for agricultural in the face
of slowing or stagnant public R&D resources, but it addressed a
narrower set of research topics and input industries than publicly funded
R&D.
- Public policies have a major influence on private-sector incentives to invest in agricultural research. Intellectual property protection, regulatory frameworks, and especially, public investments in basic science that opens up new technological opportunities, have been important drivers of the growth of private agricultural R&D, reports Meatingplace magazine.
