Report: Ag research too focused on food production

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - A new study says American farmers are producing more food than ever but agricultural research is too focused on production and should pay more attention to its unintended consequences.

The report was released Tuesday by the National Academies' National Research Council. The group advises the federal government on science and engineering.

The report's authors say U.S. farmers grow 158 percent more food than they did 50 years ago. But they say research is too focused on clearing hurdles to greater production.

The report calls for a broader approach to research that spends more time and money on trying to figure out what kind of problems that heavy production can lead to.