This OTA technical memorandum reviews key factors that influence U.S. trade in agriculture. It is part of a larger OTA project that analyzes the effects of technological change on both international trade and the structure of the domestic economy. Despite basic structural changes in the economy of the United States in recent years, agriculture and food production remain important parts of this country’s economic framework.

This memorandum is part of a larger assessment which will address the impact of advanced structural materials on the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing sector, and offer policy options for accelerating the commercial utilization of these materials.

A report on the mounting intensity of global competition in the 1980s that underscores the critical role played by the basic research enterprise of the United States. Basic research is the backbone of much of the technological development that has provided not only our economic prosperity, but improvements in health, a strong national defense, and exciting and fundamental advances in knowledge.

A report on fuel cell technology is one of the most promising of the new electric power technologies currently undergoing development. Fuel cell power systems have attracted attention because of their potential for high efficiency, low emissions, flexible use of fuels, and quietness. The Federal Government and the private sector have been funding fuel cell R&D for more than 20 years. The state-of-the-art has advanced to the point that fuel cell manufacturers hope to begin marketing fuel cells in just a few years. Full-scale demonstration plants are currently being designed.

This technical memorandum, requested by the Task Force on Science Policy of the House Committee on Science and Technology, provides a “snapshot” of factors affecting science in the 1980s, and focuses on emerging issues that will require consideration by Congress.