Whole-System Integration and Modeling Essential to Agricultural Science and Technology for the 21st Century

In the 21st century, agricultural research has more difficult and complex problems to solve. The continued increase in population in the developing countries requires continued increases in agricultural production. However, the increased use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water required for the new higher yielding crop varieties has been causing environmental problems. Excessive leaching and runoff of agricultural chemicals are seriously affecting the quality of both the groundwater and surface waters. Increase in soil salinity, decline in soil organic matter, and increase in soil erosion remain the major problems in intensively farmed areas. Even the air quality is being affected. At the same time, market-based global competition is challenging the economic viability of traditional agricultural systems. Global climate change will pose additional challenges. The solution or mitigation of these changing and multiple problems will require continual improvement or changes in management and selectio...