Abstract:
U. S. agriculture is at a crossroads. The value of
traditional agricultural exports has fallen while imports
have increased. Concerns about the environmental
impacts of current agricultural practices threaten
profitability. As O'Connell (1989) pointed out in
Choices , one answer to U. S. farm problems might be
found in the "development of nontraditional farm
products." This diversification will probably require
"joint efforts among government, academia, and
industry." In recent years, it has been recognized that
aquaculture was a natural part of agriculture, and
research funding for the development of a commercially
viable aquaculture industry has increased. Research has
focused, however, on the culture of fish and shellfish.
The production of algae and the development of algalderived
products have the potential to become an
increasingly important part of the agricultural sector and
should be actively pursued.
