The land-grant agricultural colleges of the United States must evolve beyond their traditional focus on production agriculture if they are to survive and meet the needs of an increasingly urbanized nation, according a report by the former chancellor of UC Davis. In today's issue of the journal Science, James H. Meyer, a professor of animal science and chancellor emeritus, traces the genesis of land-grant colleges and suggests that these institutions need to broaden their focus to include the entire human food and fiber system, from production through consumption. Such an approach would increase the emphasis on life sciences, food quality, environmental concerns and the rural-urban connection. "The modern environment at scientific and agricultural universities calls for a new model," Meyer says. "Land-grant colleges need to anticipate a reduction in the focus on agriculture and must work to become better integrated in the intellectual life of their parent universities." While it has been proposed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture take the lead in reconstructing the land-grant colleges, Meyer suggests that the USDA has become too politicized to be effective in this capacity.