hemp requires limited agricultural inputs
in fields, thus allowing greater biodiversity
than that supported by a field of conven-
tional crops ( 7 ). Hemp can also bioremediate
toxins from the environment ( 8 ).
Researchers studying industrial applica-
tions will also now have better access to
hemp products. Hemp fiber is environ-
mentally friendly to produce and has a
high strength-to-weight ratio ( 9 ). Given
their properties, hempseed oil, fiber, and
the inner woody core of the stem may be
valuable for developing sustainable con-
struction materials that sequester carbon,
such as epoxies, biocomposite plastics,
and hempcrete, respectively ( 10 ). Hemp
fibers may also be a cheap platform for
producing carbon nanosheets for electron-
ics applications ( 11 ). Furthermore, the
fast growth, high yield, and cellulose-rich
content of hemp stalks provide a suitable
platform for biofuel production ( 12 ). Until
now, the cost of importing hemp into the
United States has hindered development of
such applications. Passage of the farm bill
provides exciting opportunities to explore
new uses of hemp and the development of
sustainable products.
Craig Schluttenhofer1,2* and Ling Yuan1,3,^4
(^1) Tobacco Research and Development Center,
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546 , USA.
(^2) Department of Water Resources Management,
Central State University, Wilberforce, OH 45384 ,
USA.^3 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences,
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546 , USA.
(^4) South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Guangzhou 5 10650 , China.
*Corresponding author.
Email: [email protected]
REFERENCES
115 th Congress, H.R. 2 —Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 ( 2018 ); http://www.congress.gov/bill/ 115 th-congress/
house-bill/2/text.
S. S. Stith, J. M. Vigil, Science 352 , 1182 (2 01 6).
Y. T. Yang, J. P. Szaflarski, JAMA Neurol. 10. 1001 /jamaneu-
rol.2 018 .3 550 ( 2018 ).
S. Pisanti et al., Pharmacol. Therapeut. 175 , 133 (2 017 ).
A. C. Campos, M. V. Fogaça, A. B. Sonego, F. S. Guimarães,
Pharmacolo. Res. 112 , 119 - (2 016 ).
J. M. McPartland, R. C. Clarke, D. P. Watson, “Hemp
diseases and pests: Management and biological control:
An advanced treatise” (CABI, 2000 ).
S. Montford, E. Small, J. Int. Hemp Assoc. 6 , 53 ( 1 999).
P. Linger, J. Müssig, H. Fischer, J. Kobert, Indust. Crops
Prod. 16 , 33 (2 002 ).
K. L. Pickering, M. G. A. Efendy, T. M. Le, Compos. Part A
Appl. Sci. Manufact. 83 , 98 (2 016 ).
C. Ingrao et al., Renew. Sustain. Energ. Rev. 51 , 29 (2 015 ).
H. Wang et al., ACS Nano 7 , 5131 ( 2013 ).
C. Schluttenhofer, L. Yuan, Trends Plant Sci. 22 , 917 (2 017 ).
10 .1 126 /science.aaw 3537Argentina’s subpar
investment in science
Socioeconomic progress is closely linked
to investment in research and develop-
ment (R&D) ( 1 ). Countries can encourage
economic growth by spending a sub-
stantial share of gross domestic product
(GDP) on R&D ( 2 ). Argentina, which is in
the midst of an economic crisis that is hit-
ting scientists hard (“Argentina’s scientists
engulfed in budget crisis,” E. Rodríguez
Mega, News, 16 November 2018 , https://
scim.ag/ArgentinaBudget), has not notice-
ably increased research spending in the
past decade ( 3 ), despite promises to invest
more ( 4 , 5 ). In 2015 , Argentina invested
0 .6 3 % GDP into R&D, compared with
Brazil’s 1. 28 % and 2. 74 % by the United
States ( 3 ). Argentina’s science enterprise
also suffers because 80 % of the country’s
R&D funding comes from the public sec-
tor, unlike in Brazil and the United States,
where the private sector contributes
substantially ( 6 ). To spur scientific prog-
ress and economic growth, Argentina’s
government should implement policies
that increase R&D funding.Limited funding impairs performance,
especially for early-career researchers, who
comprise an energetic, highly skilled, and
mobile labor force ( 7 ). Argentina should
nurture young investigators by encourag-
ing international training, incentivizing
their return upon its completion, and
providing grants that are competitive
with those available in other countries.
Currently, initiation grants in Argentina
are substantially lower than those in the
United States. For example, Argentina’s
2018 PICT-I-D grant ranged from about
US$ 3 ,5 00 to US$ 5 ,0 00 per year ( 8 ),
whereas the 2018 U.S. K 99 was US$ 113 , 000
in 2018 ( 9 ). Although researchers are often
encouraged to resort to external sources
of funding, the agendas of international
organizations are not necessarily aligned
with the domestic needs ( 10 ).
Policy-makers in Argentina should also
facilitate an increase in private-sector
R&D funding, which would increase
the proportion of GDP devoted to R&D
without requiring additional public
spending. Finally, Argentina’s govern-
ment could decrease research costs and
facilitate the acquisition of materials.
Imported reagents and supplies are sub-
jected to substantial tariffs and delays due
to customs ( 10 ). The government should
provide tax breaks and work to expedite
their delivery to labs.
Hugo A. Carignano^1 * and Juan P.
Jaworski1,2*(^1) Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
(INTA), Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2 Consejo
Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
(CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
*Corresponding authors. Email: carignano.hugo@
inta.gob.ar; [email protected]
REFERENCES AND NOTES
- D. A. King, Nature 430 , 311 ( 2004 ).
- “UNESCO science report towards 2030 : Executive
Summary ( 2015 ); https://unesdoc.unesco.org/
ark:/ 48223 /pf 0000235407. - UNESCO, Science, technology, and innovation, Gross
domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD)— Indicator:
GERD as a percentage of GDP (http://data.uis.unesco.
org/?queryid= 74 #). - V. Román, Nature 10. 1038 /nature. 2016. 2101 3 ( 201 6).
- J. Kaiser, E. Marshall, Science 321 , 622 ( 2008 ).
- UNESCO, Science, technology, and innovation, GERD by
source of funds. Compare Indicators
“GERD financed by Government” and “GERD financed
by Business enterprise” (http://data.uis.unesco.
org/?queryid= 74 #). - I. Friesenhahn, C. Beaudry, “The global state of young
scientists: Project report and recommendations” (Global
Young Academy, 2014 ); https://globalyoungacademy.net/
wp-content/uploads/ 2015 / 06 /GYA_GloSYS-
report_webversion.pdf. - Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica
(FONCyT), Government of Argentina, PICT 2018 ( 2018 );
http://www.agencia.mincyt.gob.ar/frontend/agencia/
convocatoria/ 428 [in Spanish]. - National Institutes of Health, “Research and training
grants: Average funding of competing awards, by mecha-
nism and selected activity codes” ( 2019 ); https://report.
nih.gov/nihdatabook/report/ 294. - P. van Helden, EMBO Rep. 13 , 395 (2 01 2).
- 1126 /science.aaw 3872
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Hempseed oil, now more accessible to researchers,
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