Incorporating case studies of technological change in six Latin American countries, this book presents the results of a large cooperative research project (PROTAAL) that has led to a new interpretation of the process of technical change in agricultural development. The contributors contrast the perspective emerging from PROTAAL with two other views of technical change in agriculture: the theory of induced innovation and the political economy approach. They then describe the methodology developed by PROTAAL, which is highlighted in their analysis of the case studies. In the concluding chapters, the authors address important issues concerning the organization of agricultural research activities at the national and international levels and consider theoretical and policy implications for the analysis of technical change in Latin American agriculture.