August 18, 2000

Is an Agriculture-Research Effort Dying on the Vine?

By RON SOUTHWICK

Inconsistent federal support and colleges' lukewarm interest threaten peer-reviewed grants

As the federal government's primary competitive grant program for agricultural studies, the National Research Initiative occupies an important academic niche. But the program is in danger of languishing for lack of money, focus, and political clout, say researchers as well as some government officials.

A National Research Council report in April praised the program for sponsoring vital

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