There have been considerable changes during the last ten years in the ways in which agricultural research is organized in many countries. These changes are of interest to our readers and for this reason the Editors have invited the Agricultural and Food Research Council of the United Kingdom to explain present structures within that organization. The Agricultural and Food Research Council receives funds for research directly from the Department of Education and Science (c. £54 million per year) and through commissions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (c. £44 million) as well as from commercial and other organizations (c. £13 million). It advises the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, which is the body responsible for the Scottish agricultural research institutes (spending c. £22 million per year), on scientific aspects of the research they finance and also provides support to universities and other educational establishments for the support of scientific studies relevant to agriculture and food.