A NEW MODUS-OPERANDI FOR THE AGRICULTURAL-ECONOMICS PROFESSION

Agricultural economics has, until the 1990s, enjoyed a reputation for relevance and usefulness to the agri-food industry and policy-makers. That reputation has been jeopardized by a growing infatuation with mod els and quantification, and a concomitant underemphasis placed on many complex problems and issues of society. An illustrative example is ex plored, using agricultural activity-related damage to the natural reso urce base, environment and ecology. Agricultural economists are urged to respond by broadening their terms of reference and joining forces w ith other disciplines.