ABSTRACT
All of science seems to be in some political and policy difficulty. The specific pressures on agricultural science suggest a role more like that of science generally, since a rapidly growing private sector is taking over some basic science but much more of the applied research and development and extension functions. Agriculture has been described as an exceedingly complex system of biological and institutional processes. The experience in international agricultural development leads one to the conclusion that the primary sources of increased societal capacity include not only technological change but also institutional improvements, increases in human capability, and the growth of biological and physical capital. The chapter argues that the primary driving force in US agriculture is an articulated system of science-based developmental institutions. The agenda of issues in agriculture strongly suggests that more social science and humanities knowledge is needed.
