Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue down the path. We must change our direction in regard to research.
Let me quote some of the numbers over the past few years. The research and development system is becoming less diverse. Public investment in agriculture knowledge generation, which includes R and D, has declined by 15%. Private sector outsourced R and D to universities is down 77%. The number of enterprises conducting research and development has shrunk by 30%. If the members on the other side want to continue down this path, it will put us at an unfair advantage politically, economically and universally.