Longer-term basic research, through which quantum discovery leaps tend to occur, likely will need to continue to be part of the federally funded mandate. Private funding tends to target investments where the involved companies have an opportunity to achieve direct economic benefit. The private sector may address some applied and development research, but public funding in agricultural research must occur in areas where no company will invest because they cannot guarantee that they alone will benefit. Where partnerships can be formed, so much the better. The two types of research should complement and support each other whenever possible, not duplicate, compete against, or replace each other.
Critical questions continue to arise, especially around such issues as genome research.
Three types of funding remain vital to the public-supported research systems. Formula funding is key to the federal-state partnership. It is the base funding that allows land grant universities to maintain human capital that can leverage other funds for research on agricultural issues. It is absolutely critical that this be maintained across the large and small states of the nation. There is also an important role for special research appropriations directed at regional issues.