I don't know about "importance," since it seems like a value judgement, or an equivocation to use the word in two different senses at the same time. Agriculture

I don't know about "importance," since it seems like a value judgement, or an equivocation to use the word in two different senses at the same time. Agriculture is less than 2% of American GDP but no one starves for lack of food. The US doesn't need to pour more resources into making food more "important." The US really is manufacturing more stuff than ever. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyF5jxwDPa4/T7b90wKmj5I/AAAAAAAARnI/mJhmTS_Ckw0/s1600/mfg2.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyF5jxwDPa4/T7b90wKmj5I/AAAAAAAARn... Manufacturing is high-beta relative to GDP, so trying to increase its percentage of GDP would increase overall volatility.