Agriculture, compared with all other industries in the U.S. economy, has one of the highest rates of productivity growth. Agricultural productivity's strong performance has driven the growth of agricultural output and sustained economic returns to the land, labor and capital engaged in agricultural production. The impressive record for agricultural productivity growth has rested heavily on the long history of public investments in infrastructure and agricultural research and development.
Human health is enhanced by safe foods, balanced diets, and proper nutrition.
As the future challenges us with new and more complicated human diseases, scientists must expand outside their traditional disciplines and look toward the work that is being done in other areas such as plant and animal genomics. Transgenic plants and animals offer potential human health benefits never before thought possible. Research on how our food is produced, pesticide usage, animal care, and food handling issues also challenge our scientists. These demands and opportunities must be answered in a way that sustains or enhances our quality of life. USDA's basic research agenda is larger than ever, and greater challenges lie ahead.