Economic White Papers Reviewing Important Research Areas

For decades, applied economists have been involved in multidisciplinary efforts to address critical problems relating to the nation’s food supply, resource conservation, environmental quality, energy use, and the role of agriculture in international development. More recently, alternative energy sources, climate change, child nutrition, and world hunger have received increasing emphasis. Science and technology hold the promise to solve the problems, but final resolution will depend on economic, social, and political feasibility. Understanding the economic aspects of the problems and proposed solutions is the key to successful implementation.

The economics framework provides an analytical and comprehensive empirical approach to address societal problems, especially when that framework is integrated with the research of other sciences. These white papers profile some of the research agricultural and applied economists have conducted in recent years. These white papers are just a sample of work that has been done by researchers that are in departments of agricultural and natural resource economics.

Economics contributes to the underlying research through its focus on social and market factors that affect consumer and firm behaviors. In the first decade of the twenty-first century, society faces new questions and challenges. With new challenges, food, agricultural and resource economists have the opportunity to provide the critical information for private and public decisions contributing to society’s resolution of those challenges.

SUMMARY
 Contributions of Economics to NIFA Priorities

BIO-ENERGY, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
 Bio-Energy, Climate and Environment

FAMILIES, YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES
 Families, Youth and Communities

FOOD PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
 Food Production and Sustainability

FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION
 Food Safety and Nutrition

PLANT AND ANIMAL SYSTEMS
 Plant and Animal Systems