Why is the authorization of “new funds” an integral element?
The United States is not keeping pace with other nations (most notably China and India) when it comes to public expenditures on food, agriculture, and natural resources discovery, enlightenment, and outreach. Statistics released by the FAOs Science Council in December 2005, show that India and China increased public agricultural R&D spending from 1981 to 2000 by 248 percent and 200 percent (respectively), while spending in the United States grew by only 51 percent.
