“What value is there in knowing how long sweet potatoes have been in Polynesia and where they came from? Will that knowledge increase sweet potato production, or improve their nutritional content?”
That sounds straight outta the USSR. One of the most compelling things science can do is tell us the story of how humanity spread across the earth and give us some answers about our history.
And if government is spending my money to increase production or nutritional content, I would say that is more properly the job of the sweet potato industry.
???
And if government is spending my money to increase production or nutritional content, I would say that is more properly the job of the sweet potato industry.
If that knowledge can create some new wealth*, or feed, clothe and house people, or prevent us from killing one another by repeating past mistakes then it is worth the investment. If it is simply very interesting information, let the interested pay for it.
*Moving dollars from our pockets to those of so-called scientists is not wealth creation.