Agriculture's Futures

Agriculture is more than farming. It is a highly spe­ The entire system is increasingly consumer cialized, internationally industrialized, and produc­ driven, with market power shifting to the retail tive food and fiber system. Its many components outlets as they respond to consumer preferences have an interdependent future, the sum total of rather than to urgings from food manufacturers. which is the industry's future. The production sector is still primarily a response mechanism adjusting cost structures where pos­ The complexity of agriculture extends through­ sible in line with "given" market prices. Keys to out the economy, making it increasingly vulnerable profit and survivability throughout the system lie in to political, social, and institutional forces. Al­ product/service differentiation, superior manage­ though one can summarize the future of agriculture ment (finance in particlar), use of relevant technol­ more than is done here, to do so would lose the ogies, and effective communication of all kinds.