Studies have shown that every dollar invested in agricultural research returns 20-dollars to the economy. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has accelerated commercialization of federal research and government researchers are working closely with the private sector to develop new technology and transfer it to the marketplace. In 2013 – USDA reports receiving 51 patents, filing 147 patent applications and disclosing 180 new inventions – all detailed in its 2013 Annual Report on Technology Transfer. The new farm bill will help build on the accomplishments USDA has made by establishing the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. For more information on USDA innovations reported for the past year – visit www.ars.usda.gov.
Source: NAFB News Service