Excerpt
We live in an era of profound technological breakthroughs. High profile examples affecting agriculture include biotechnology and advanced information systems. Even new terms like “leapfrog technologies” are entering our vocabulary to capture the dizzying pace and magnitude of potential change. Some promise higher food and fiber productivity and some promise a better environment. But few deliver both. Can we encourage more technologies that simultaneously serve both production and environmental purposes?
The powerful record of conservation tillage in lowering input cost and reducing erosion may be the most prominent example of an agricultural technology contributing to production and environmental goals. Others appear poised to follow—soil testing to more precisely apply fertilizer and improve water quality condition, for example. Or perhaps rotational grazing for yield gains and soil quality and wildlife enhancement. As we approach the 21st century, the development of such “complementary technologies” becomes critical when faced with growing international competitiveness and ever tighter government budgets, but also continued agroenvironmental initiatives (OTA).
Technologies for joint production-environment goals have been neglected
The simultaneous pursuit of agricultural production and environmental quality objectives through technology research and development (R&D) has not been emphasized in the United States. Neither private industry …
Footnotes
The authors are Visiting Senior Analyst and Analyst with the Environment Program, Office of Technology Assessment, U.S. Congress; Ervin is also a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oregon State University. Helpful comments from Michael Phillips are acknowledged.
- Copyright 1995 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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