The group, called the "MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute," provides unbiased numbers to policy makers. These officials include US Congress and international trade negotiators. Research also goes to inform farm groups and farmers. It was led by Professor Abner Womack since 1984, but leadership recently shifted to Professors Willi Meyers and Pat Westhoff.

The goal is to give unbiased facts based on numbers to be used in policy-making.

A fourth of the group's funding comes from US Congress. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources contributes almost as much. The group earns the rest through international work and grant collection. The group has two part-time and 15 full-time workers, four graduate students and eight undergraduate students. The students are trained and ready for analytical jobs in government, academia, agriculture and business.

The team has computerized economic models of the US and international agricultural markets. This method of policy has been adopted by institutes in South Africa, Ireland, Mexico and Seoul. Analyses from FAPRI have been used in two rounds of negotiation by the World Trade Organization.

In addition to working with policy analysis, the team teaches through Extension meetings across Missouri. The group holds regional meetings to inform farmers on the potential impacts of new farm bills. One example is how to calculate farm support in the latest farm bill's Average Crop Revenue Election.

You can check out the team's Web site by clicking the link at the left.