Research Funding Tightening, Concerning Researchers

According to a report quoted by the USDA, for every $1 invested in agriculture research, $20 is returned to the American public.

University of California’s Dr. Glenda Humiston explains how that research has been so successful.

“That kind of consistent return and the kind of great benefits it has provided relies on a key bunch of infrastructure out there that we’ve got to maintain and invest in.”

Something Humiston told the House Ag Committee the federal government is not doing.

With tighter research budget, many who dole out the money are looking for quick returns, but according to Humiston, that can ignore the foundation such as the work done that allowed her team to come up with a mechanical tomato harvester in just a couple of years.

“I think a key thing to remember there is that tomato harvester would not have worked without the plant genetics program that made a tomato able to be machine harvested. That kind of works takes anywhere between one to two or more decades. We need to keep that in mind.”

Humiston said not investing in that long-term research and the infrastructure it needs could prevent future breakthroughs.