Overview
Data for public and private funding
of food and agricultural research and development cover the years
1970-2009 (public) and 1970-2007 (private). Data are
available as nominal figures and adjusted for
inflation.
Public funding is based on data from two sources:
Private funding estimates are constructed by ERS, based on the methodology presented in Research Investments and Market Structure in the Food Processing, Agricultural Input, and Biofuel Industries Worldwide, ERR-130, December 2011.
The research deflator (used to convert current
dollars to real) is constructed by ERS, based on the
methodology described in Pardey et al. ("U.S.
Agricultural Research Deflators: 1890-1985." Research
Policy 18, October 1989).
For more details, see the documentation.
Data File
| Agricultural
Research Funding in the Public and Private
Sectors |
 |
AgResearchFunding.xls.
Data are available as nominal figures and adjusted
for inflation for 1970-2009 (public) and 1970-2007
(private). See the documentation for details. |
 d
Definitions
The detailed definition of agricultural R&D can
be found in the Current
Research Information Systems Manual of Classification.
Essentially, public agricultural R&D focuses on the
plants and animals used in agricultural production; the
natural resources that are used or affected by agriculture
production; production systems and their support; food
and non-food products; human nutrition, well-being, and
food safety; families and community systems; economics,
marketing and policy; and research administration. Private
R&D includes many of the same research topics, specifically
plant breeding, agricultural chemicals, farm machinery, fertilizers, animal health, animal breeding, animal nutrition, and food and kindred products. The National Science Foundation data are defined by agency, in this case, USDA's research agencies. Both NSF and CRIS exclude outlays on "R&D plant," or expenditures on long-lived capital assets.
Agricultural Research Deflator—A price index that accounts
for inflation in the cost of research inputs. The costs
of conducting research have risen faster than the general
rate of inflation.
Private Sector Agricultural R&D Funding—Agricultural
R&D funding of non-public institutions, generally
private firms. (Private funding of research at public
institutions is included under public sector R&D).
Public Sector Agricultural R&D Funding—Agricultural
R&D funding that flows through or to a public institution,
whether at the federal or State level.
Related Resources
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