Abstract
We explore, in-depth, the role of public spending on agricultural Research and Development (R&D) and linkages to on-farm productivity, resource use, environmental quality and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. Productivity growth in U.S. agriculture since the 1950’s has permitted total output to grow rapidly with very limited growth in farm inputs. However, this growth has been closely tied to public and private investments in R&D. And the payoff from public R&D takes decades to be fully realized. Therefore, it is the investments being made today that will determine the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture at mid-century. In this Policy Brief, we explore the consequences of alternative R&D trajectories – both in the U.S. and abroad – for the environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in 2050.
Recommended Citation
Baldos, Uris L.C. and Hertel, Thomas W.
(2018)
"Productivity Growth is Key to Achieving Long Run Agricultural Sustainability,"
Purdue Policy Research Institute (PPRI) Policy Briefs: Vol. 4
:
Iss.
1,
Article 8.
Available at:
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/gpripb/vol4/iss1/8
