Funds decline for agriculture

That’s what DotEarth, the New York Times‘ blog on environmental issues, wonders. Andrew Revkin points to declining funding for basic research in key areas like agriculture and energy as a troubling example of how the U.S. fails to promote innovation.

Revkin concludes,

“Societies and economies today are built on advances in technologies and practices in fields like agriculture and energy that were spurred by significant public investment a few decades ago. But there doesn’t seem to be much evidence that the current generation is willing to keep filling the innovation pipeline for successors.”

If this view is true, is there an upside? Do you think American enervation presents an opportunity for countries like Canada to build their own research strengths?

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