Agricultural Sciences

commentary

Drones Could Deliver Change to Africa

Drones could transform Africa's urban and rural infrastructure and enhance its agricultural productivity. But deployment of drones on the continent faces technological, economic, social, and legal, and regulatory challenges.

Shira Efron

blog

How the Drinking Bird Foiled a Spruce Goose Engineer

The famous drinking bird toy gave RAND's Dick Murrow an idea that might help Egyptian farmers. But Murrow, who previously led Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose design team, couldn't secure funding to get the concept off the ground.

commentary

Europe's Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

The EC's AMR Action Plan included measures to ensure antimicrobials are used more appropriately in both humans and animals and measures to stimulate R&D of new antibiotics. One area that was not sufficiently covered was the environment.

Elta Smith, Catherine A. Lichten

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Why the United Nations General Assembly Session on Antimicrobial Resistance Matters

Many common infections are becoming resistant to the antimicrobial medicines used to treat them, resulting in longer illnesses and more deaths. The fact that world leaders are using the UN as a forum for discussions about AMR is a promising move toward developing a coordinated global plan.

Jirka Taylor, Elta Smith

commentary

European and American Efforts to Tackle AMR: Great Minds Think Alike (Almost Always)

The U.S. and the EU are committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance. Their efforts share objectives around key areas for improvement, such as the stewardship of existing antimicrobials, surveillance of their use, and development of new antimicrobials.

Jirka Taylor, Elta Smith

commentary

The Global Economic Costs of Antimicrobial Resistance

In addition to being a public health problem, antimicrobial resistance is also a major economic concern. It crosses sectoral boundaries, because resistant bugs can pass between animals and humans, and through food, agriculture, and the environment.

Jirka Taylor, Catherine A. Lichten, et al.

commentary

TAFTA: SMEs Would Benefit Greatly

Is the time really ripe for a free trade treaty (TAFTA) between the US and Europe? A TAFTA would liberate small and medium size businesses from a painful cost burden, writes Charles Ries in a guest editorial for International Trade News.

Charles P. Ries @charles_ries

commentary

Africa Needs Its Own Indicators of Scientific Innovation

Policies to stimulate African development require evidence that is difficult to obtain using existing indicators, writes Watu Wamae.

Watu Wamae

commentary

Perceptions of Food That Are an Ocean Apart

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Felicia Wu

commentary

Want to Help Africa? Stop Farm Subsidies

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Carl Bildt