Table of Contents


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................... iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................... v
PROJECTIONS AND THE ORGANIZATION
 OF THIS REPORT ....................... 1
PART I BASIC CLASSIFICATIONS ....... 5
 The Four Cutting Edges for Growth in
 Agriculture's Capacity to Produce........... 5
 Categories of Agricultural Research ......... 6
 Disciplinary Research .............. .. 6
 Subject-Matter Research . . . . . . . 6
 Problem-Solving Research .......... ... 6
 The Comparative Advantage of the
 USDA/Colleges of Agriculture in
 Doing Problem-Solving and
 Subject-Matter Research................. 7
 The Private Sector-Its Role in
 Problem-Solving and Subject-Matter
 Research and Extension .............. . 7
 Relationships Among the
 Three Kinds of Research................. 7
PART II CRITICS OF THE AGRICULTURAL
 RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT ........... 8
 The Biological and Physical Scientists
 Outside the USDA/Land-Grant
 System ............................... 8
 Humanists, Social Scientists,
 Religious Leaders and Others ............ 9
 A activists ............. ..... ............. 9
 Power, Knowledge and Ethical Dilemmas of
 ARE Administrators and Researchers ...... 10
 Power Distributions . . ............ . 10
 Knowledge Bases for Administrators
 and Researchers of the ARE.......... 11
 Dilemmas Faced ................... 12
PART III RESEARCH PRIORITIES ....... 13
 Examples of Problem-Solving Research
 for Agriculture ........... .............. 13
 Additional Considerations and
 a Sum m ary ........................ 15
 Subject-Matter and Disciplinary Research
 for Agriculture ............. .......... 16
 Research on Technology ................. 16
 Plant and Soil Science Subject-
 M atter Research ............... . ... 16
 Field Crops ........................ 16
 Genetic Improvement ............... 16
 Resistance to Environmental Stress .... 18
 Farming Systems Research ........... 18
 Integrated Pest Management ......... 19
 Horticulture ................. . . 19
 F orestry ......... ................ 20
 Disciplinary Research Relevant for
 Plant Productivity .................. 21


 Photosynthesis ........... ....... 21
 Rising Levels of Atmospheric
 Carbon Dioxide .................. 21
 Atmospheric Pollutants and
 Trace Elements .............. . ... 22
 Biological Nitrogen Fixation .......... 22
 Mycorrhizal-Root Interactions ........ 24
 Root-Colonizing Bacteria ............ 24
 Nitrification and Denitrification ...... 24
 Somatic Cell Fusion and Tissue Culture 24
 Plant Growth Regulants ............. 25
 Greater Resistance to Competing
 Biological Systems ............ ... 25
 Increasing Plant Resistance to
 Environmental Stress .......... ... 25
 Needed Relevant Disciplinary Research
 for Forestry ...................... 25
 Subject-Matter Research in the
 Animal Sciences ............... . ... 26
 Genetic Improvement and Diversity... 26
 Improved Feeding ............. . ... 27
 Anim al Health ..................... 28
 Land-Conserving Animal Husbandry.. 28
 Labor-Conserving Animal Husbandry 28
 Environmental Control .............. 29
 Anim al W welfare .................... 29
 Aquaculture........................ 29
 Disciplinary Research in the Biological
 and Physical Sciences Relevant for
 Livestock ................... . . 29
 Reproductive Efficiency ............. .29
 Resistance to Environmental Stress .... 30
 Disease Control, Health, and
 Animal W welfare ............. . ... 30
 Subject-Matter Research in
 Food Science. ...................... 30
 Disciplinary Research Relevant for
 Food Science ................ . . 31
 Subject-Matter Research in
 Agricultural Engineering............. 31
 Mechanization and Automation ....... 31
 Natural Resources .............. . ... 32
 Structures and Environments for
 Plants and Animals ............... 33
 Food Engineering .............. . ... 33
 Disciplinary Research Relevant for
 Agricultural Engineering ............. 33
 General Discussion of Technical
 Subject-Matter and Disciplinary
 Research ............. ...... . ... 33
Research (Both Subject-Matter and
 Disciplinary) on Institutional and Related
 Changes of Importance for the Use and
 Generation of Technology ............ 34
 Subject-Matter Research on Institutional
 and Related Changes................ 35