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Investing in the National Research Initiative An Update of the Competitive Grants Program in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (1994) / Chapter Skim
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Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 37-42

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From page 37...
... First, the competitive position of the United States, and particularly its food and fiber industries, would erode in a liberalized trading environment unless productivity increased and market opportunities expanded. Competitiveness in international markets has continued to be of paramount concern to the U.S.
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From page 38...
... improving the state of our natural resources, the board proposed a reinvigoration of the nation's agricultural research program to be accomplished through a significant expansion of the role of competitive grants in the traditional USDA funding portfolio. The rationale and strategy for the effort were described in Investing in Research (National Research Council, 1989)
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From page 39...
... These returns translate into benefits for natural resource management, nutritional status of the people of the United States, and the nation's competitiveness in international markets. Second, the board said that "current funding for the agricultural research system cannot adequately support either the in-depth studies or the broad scope of science and technology necessary to maintain the competitiveness and sustainability of the overall agricultural, food and envi
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From page 40...
... The board finds that the operation of the NRI grant program has been enhanced; however, more can be done. The board recommends that the NRI program managers pursue additional opportunities for improvement in making more systematic evaluations of program performance, redoubling efforts to promote multidisciplinary research, and continuing to assure the relevance of the NRI grant agenda to national goals.
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From page 41...
... The board emphasizes that evaluation will not only improve the performance of the NRI but also provide evidence of the contributions it makes to national goals for competitiveness, human health, and the environment. The board believes that the NRI should initiate a vigorous effort to define key performance measures for the program, including the participation of the broader science community and the effectiveness of the variety of grant types, especially multidisciplinary.
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From page 42...
... Moreover, it is difficult to find objective criteria on which to judge sustainability, a working definition of which continues to be hotly disputed. Coordination In carrying out the mandate to pursue research to support a sustainable food andfiber system, the board recommends that the USDA research managers continue to seek a better understanding of the relationship between individual research projects and attainment of national goals.
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Key Terms

  • agricultural research
  • usda research
  • significant expansion
  • multidisciplinary research
  • international trade

  • agricultural science
  • overall agricultural
  • program evaluation
  • executive office
  • food supply

  • nri program
  • board recommends
  • nri funding
  • board believes
  • federal science

  • clinton administration
  • board endorsed
  • competitive research
  • original recommendation
  • grant types

  • define key
  • board hopes
  • environment unless
  • agreements negotiated
  • nutritional quality

  • program performance
  • critical importance
  • key performance
  • returns translate
  • opportunities expanded


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