Description

Biotechnology can change the way we live. It has already provided, and promises to provide, many products never before available, as well as greater quantities of products now in short supply. Some products produced by biotechnology will be less expensive and safer to use than those now produced by other means. The potential of biotechnology to improve the Nation’s health, food supply, and the quality of the environment leads logically to questions about the adequacy of current funding levels.

This report, the fourth in a series on new developments in biotechnology, analyzes the current level of support for biotechnology by the Federal Government, by State and local governments, and by the private sector. The report is titled “U.S. Investment in Biotechnology;” investment indicates expectation that the expenditures will result in significant benefits to society. Investment is treated broadly in this report to encompass financial resources, human resources, and industrial policies.