Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pftt2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-08T22:19:32.023Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

New Challenges Facing Agricultural and Resource Economics Departments in the Twenty-first Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Adesoji O. Adelaja
Adesoji O. Adelaja*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Marketing, and associate director, Agriculture and Food Policy, Rutgers Ecopolicy Center, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Get access

Abstract

Land/grant colleges were established to serve the public via a tripartite system of teaching, research, and extension. Agricultural economists have played a key role in this system in meeting agriculture's needs and are expanding this role to better cover the areas of food, natural resources, and the environment. The declining economic importance of agriculture and the growing interest in relegating agriculture to free market forces has resulted in declining formula funding for the land grant system, greater emphasis on competitive funding, demands for greater accountability, and demands for a return to greater focus on public service, problem solving, and stakeholder involvement in the definition of research, teaching, and outreach agenda. Simultaneously, the demand for the traditional “agricultural economics” graduate is declining. This paper reviews the current and long-term issues and trends facing agricultural economics departments, explores the futures of their teaching, research, and outreach programs, and highlights the challenges that will be faced as these departments explore new teaching, research, and service opportunities in the areas of food, natural resources, and the environment. The paper concludes by arguing that for forward thinking agricultural economics departments, these pending changes will represent opportunities for better scholarship, more balance, and more effective service.

Type
Invited Presentations
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , October 1997 , pp. 117 - 129
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adelaja, Adesoji, Nayga, Rodolfo, Tank, Karen, and Schilling, Brian. 1997. “The Business Climate of Food Firms: A Comparative Analysis of Problems Faced by Food Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Retailers and Service Institutions in New Jersey.” Journal of Food Distribution Research forthcoming.Google Scholar
Ballenger, Nicole. 1996. “The National Research Council Report on the Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities: Implications for the Northeast.” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 25: 121–126.Google Scholar
Ballenger, Nicole, and Kouadio, Diby. 1995. “The National Research Council of the Colleges of Agriculture at Land Grant Universities: Status and Thoughts for Agricultural Economists.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 77: 1329–36.Google Scholar
Bonnen, James T. 1996. “Land Grant Universities Are Changing.” Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, Staff Paper: 96-100.Google Scholar
Bonnen, James T. 1988. “The Role of the Social Sciences at Land Grant Colleges.” Paper presented at the Rutgers University Agricultural Economics and Marketing Seminar Series, October 26.Google Scholar
Broder, Josef, and Bergstrom, John. 1996. “Product Differentiation in Undergraduate Programs: A Case Study at the University of Georgia.” Choices (4th quarter):37–38.Google Scholar
Cardon, B.P. 1985. “Challenges Facing Land-Grant Institutions.” In: Research Perspectives: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Research Agenda for the State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, Cooperative State Research Service: 31–34.Google Scholar
Carpenter, W.D. 1985. “Institutional Relationships between State Agricultural Experiment Stations and Industry.” In: Research Perspectives: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Research Agenda for the State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, Cooperative State Research Service: 35–39.Google Scholar
Cassidy, John. 1996. “The Decline of Economics.” New Yorker (December 2):50–60.Google Scholar
Christensen, Robert L., and Robinson, Roland R. 1985. “Federal Funding of SAES Economics Research: Trends and Possible Strategies for Improved Support.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 67: 1251–1255.Google Scholar
Christenson, James A., Dillman, Don. A., Warner, Paul. D., and Salant, Priscilla. 1995. “The Public View of Land Grant Universities: Results From a National Survey.” Choices (3rd Quarter):37–38.Google Scholar
Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (CFARE). 1997. Testimony to the Senate Agriculture Committee. Mimeograph, March: 125–130.Google Scholar
Cyert, R.M., and Goodman, P.S. 1995. “Creating Effective University-Industry Alliances: An Organizational Learning Perspective.” Organizational Dynamics (Spring):45–57.Google Scholar
Evenson, R.E., and Kislev, Y. 1975. Agricultural Research and Productivity. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Farney, D. 1986. “Prairie Squall: Cross Winds Buffet Land-Grant College As States’ Needs Shift.” Wall Street Journal. (Volume CCIX, No. 62): July 14.Google Scholar
Hassebrook, C. 1993. “A New Agenda: Research and Extension from a ‘New Coalitions’ Perspective.” In: The Future of Agricultural Research and Extension: Policy Perspectives, Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Report, University of Missouri-Columbia(June): 13-20.Google Scholar
Huffman, Wallace E., and Evenson, Robert E. 1993. Science of Agriculture: A Long-Term Perspective. Ames: Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Huffman, Wallace E., and Just, Richard E. 1994. “Funding, Structure, and Management of Public Agricultural Research in the United States.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 76: 744–59.Google Scholar
Johnston, Warren E. 1985. “The Alternative Funding of Agricultural Economics Research: The Experience of the Past Decade and Challenge to the Profession.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 67: 1256–61.Google Scholar
Just, Richard E., and Huffman, Wallace E. 1992. “Economic Principles and Incentives: Structure, Management, and Funding of Agricultural Research in the United States.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 74: 1101–1108.Google Scholar
Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities. 1997. Returning to Our Roots. National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC). April.Google Scholar
Knutson, M., and Tweeten, L.G. 1979. “Toward an Optimal Rate of Growth in Agricultural Production Research and Extension.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 61: 70–76.Google Scholar
Liska, B.J. 1988. “The Hatch Act and Funding for Food Science Research.” Food Technology (February): 110–112.Google Scholar
Marchant, Mary A. and Zepeda, Lydia. 1995. “The Agricultural Economics Profession at the Crossroads: Survey Results of Faculty Salary, Employment, and Hiring Prospects.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 77 (December): 1322–28.Google Scholar
Merrigan, K.A. 1993. “A Time for Change: Research and Extension in the New Administration.” In: The Future of Agricultural Research and Extension: Policy Perspectives, Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Report, University of Missouri-Columbia (June): 1-6.Google Scholar
Meyer, James H. 1997. Re-Engineering the Land Grant College of Agriculture. Special Report. Davis, University of California (May).Google Scholar
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC). 1997. “Response to Senator Lugar's Questions Regarding Research, Extension, and Education.” NASULGC March.Google Scholar
National Research Council. 1995. Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities: A Profile. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
National Research Council. National Research Council. 1996. Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities: Public Service and Public Policy. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Norton, V., Colyer, D., Norton, N.A. and Davis-Swing, L. 1995. “Issues and Trends in Agricultural and Agricultural Economics Research Funding.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 77 (December 1995): 1337–46.Google Scholar
O’Connell, P.F. 1985. “National Agenda Setting and the State Agricultural Experiment Stations.” NASULGC: Research Perspectives: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Research Agenda for State Agricultural Experiment Stations . Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, The Cooperative State Research Service: 41–44.Google Scholar
Pardey, P.G., and Craig, B. 1989. “Causal Relationships between Public Sector Agricultural Research Expenditures and Output.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 71: 9–19.Google Scholar
Rose-Ackerman, S., and Evenson, R. 1985. “The Political Economy of Agricultural Research and Extension: Grants, Votes, and Reapportionment.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 67: 1–14.Google Scholar
Schroeder, Charles P. 1993. “A Land Grant Response.” In: The Future of Agricultural Research and Extension: Policy Perspectives, Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Report, University of Missouri-Columbia (June): 29-35.Google Scholar
Schuh, G. Edward. 1986. “Revitalizing Land Grant Universities: It's Time to Regain Relevance.” Choices (2nd Quarter): 6–10.Google Scholar
Seneca, Joseph J. 1997. “Institutions Must Adapt to a Changing World.” Rutgers Focus (March): 2.Google Scholar
Sigurdson, Chris. 1996. “Purdue Ag Enrollment Fueled by Food.” Purdue Agriculture Connections 5 (1) (Fall): 5.Google Scholar
Whitehead, A.F. 1936. “Harvard: The Future.” Atlantic Monthly (September): 267.Google Scholar
Wiggins, Richard C. 1997. “Scientists Must Clarify the Societal Relevance of Research.” The Scientist Volume 44 (February): 10.Google Scholar
Young, A.L. 1985. “Investment in Research: the Federal Government and the University System.” In: Research Perspectives: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Research Agenda for the State Agricultural Experiment Stations. Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, Cooperative State Research Service: 17–19.Google Scholar