Strengths and weaknesses of national agricultural research systems: attracting the next generation of grassland researchers

Grasslands research depends heavily on the National Agricultural Research System for its R&D outcomes. Future outcomes are uncertain as funding sources have contracted and much of the expertise enters the retirement phase without a succession plan. Private funding has contributed to some extent but there remains a need for governments to continue to support those aspects that deliver public good or address market failure. The major concern expressed here is that the availability of a well-educated and trained workforce is uncertain and this may hamper grasslands from contributing sufficiently to world food security.