July 18, 2018 – The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE, www.cfare.org), a non-profit organization which focuses on catalyzing informed decisions through applied economics, applauds the release of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study, Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and Agricultural Research. The C-FARE is eager to engage across disciplines to cultivate a better understanding of linkages between socioeconomic and biophysical sciences. We agree that this could ‘support more effective policy design, producer adoption, and consumer acceptance of innovation in the food and agricultural sectors’ as the report indicates.

The report outlines the importance of convergence, data and statistics infrastructure, and training of future researchers for a modern and competitive food and agricultural enterprise. It addresses critical issues related to water scarcity, human health, and natural resources. Last year, C-FARE and the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) assembled a publication on the breadth of issues that agricultural and applied economists can address through research and extension. The document is called the Agricultural and Applied Economics Priorities and Solutions Report. It contains ten priority areas for research by agricultural and applied economists. Many areas focus on working across disciplines for solutions to market, public policy, and constraints on the American innovation economy.

“The concept of convergence is important not only for solving problems, but also to allow for coordination and complimentary development of innovations that respond to marketplace demands. Markets and institutions create the opportunities for exchange between interested parties so that we can extract an innovation’s full potential. Understanding the economics of innovation, management, risks, and trade-offs is critical to delivering on our promise of innovation,” said Spiro Stefanou, Chairman of the C-FARE.

“The agricultural and applied economics profession are trained to understand complex systems, manage information, and elucidate the complexities of demand, supply, and business innovations. We are practiced in understanding people, markets, and institutions. As a result, we see important core messages of data and statistical planning, collaboration, and measurement of impacts as key elements of this report,” said Caron Gala, C-FARE Executive Director.

C-FARE

www.cfare.org

The mission of the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) is to enhance the effectiveness of the food, agricultural, resource, and related economic sectors through a stronger national presence of the agricultural and applied economics profession in the processes of identifying key economic issues; connecting the work of the profession to those in policy making and leadership, and generating greater public appreciation for research, extension/outreach, and academic programs.

The goal is to develop a compelling scientific strategy for food and agricultural research for the next decade and beyond that would stimulate transformational change in the food and agricultural system by catalyzing new research directions and partnerships, attracting new research talent, stimulating entrepreneurial activities, increasing funding opportunities, and ultimately opening new paths to a safe, healthful, and sustainable supply of food and fiber.