The new agricultural economics research unit

Abstract

IF New Zealand is to provide higher living standards for an increasing population it will have to speed up its rate of exporting. Obviously increased exports must come mainly from the agricultural industry. With a 2% per annum population increase, and to provide a 2% per annum increase in living standards, we will probably have to increase our export income by somewhere around £15 million per annum. The farming industry has the potential to provide greater exports. A recent conference of the Institute of Agricultural Science estimated that the application of known methods of production on all our farms would lead to an increase of 80% in production above the present level. This is a reflection of the great advances which have been made in New Zealand in scientific research where, in some fields, we lead the world. However, setting potential targets is only the first step. In order to turn an 80% potential into a 4% per annum rate of growth, we will need constructive economic policies to encourage increased exports. This means an expanded economic research programme to supplement the vigorous scientific research mentioned above. The present article describes the programme of economic research which has now been put in train at the Agricultural Economics Research Unit recently established at Lincoln College.