The United States of America National Report on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification and AfricaSubmitted to the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Commission on Sustainable Development 16/17 This U.S. National Report is structured differently than a typical report. Given the breadth of U.S. knowledge, information and assistance programs – built on a strong foundation of research, education, training and information systems – this document compiles samples of information that can be electronically accessed about sustainability programs and activities. The report is organized around CSD 16/17 themes, and is formatted so that readers can easily find detailed information about domestic and international sustainability resources. It is designed to be used by both policy makers and implementers to strengthen sustainable development programs and on the ground implementation activities. It includes a representative sample of the many sustainable development activities and programs in which the U.S. Government is involved. The wealth of comparable programs undertaken by Major Group stakeholders complement and further enrich the U.S. experience. Table of ContentsII.1. Domestically-Focused Agencies and Programs II. 2. Internationally-Focused Agencies and Programs II. 3. Emerging Opportunities and Challenges II. 3.1. Biofuels and Bio-Based Products II. 3. 2. Pesticide Safety and Alternatives II. 3. 3. Sustainable Business Practices in Farming II. 3.4. Agricultural Biodiversity III. Rural Development Overview III.1. Domestically-Focused Agencies and Programs III.2. Internationally-Focused Agencies and Programs IV. 1. Domestically-Focused Agencies and Programs IV. 2. Internationally-Focused Agencies and Programs V. Drought and Desertification Overview V. 1. Domestically-Focused Agencies and Programs V. 2. Internationally-Focused Agencies and Programs VI. 1. Agriculture and Rural Development VI. 2. Land, Drought and Desertification VI. 5. Other Sustainable Development Issues AMS USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service ARS USDA’s Agricultural Research Service APHIS USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service BLM Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management CAFTA-DR Central America Free Trade Agreement – and Dominican Republic CRSP USAID’s Collaborative Research Support Program CSREES USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CRP Conservation Reserve Program CSD Commission on Sustainable Development DOI United States Department of Interior EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency ERS USDA’s Economic Research Service FAS USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service FEWS Net Famine Early Warning Systems Network FS USDA’s Forest Service FSA USDA’s Farm Service Agency FNS USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service FSIS USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service GIPSA USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration IALC International Arid Lands Consortium ICARDA International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics IWMI International Water Management Institute MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation NAL USDA’s National Agricultural Library NASA United State National Aeronautical and Space Administration NASS USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRCS USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service OCE USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist PFID USAID’s Partnership for Food Industry Development RMA USDA’s Risk Management Agency RD USDA’s Rural Development SARE Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development USAID United States Agency for International Development USDA United States Department of Agriculture USGS Department of Interior’s United State Geological Survey USTR Office of the United States Trade Representative The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the Eighth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in 1999/2000 which covered agriculture and land management have each focused attention on the sustainability of the world’s natural resources and highlighted the need to link and balance environmental stewardship, economic development and social development. The CSD 16/17--2008-2009 Cycle on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification and Africa marks an exciting, challenging time to consider agriculture, rural development, and the environment, globally and in the United States. Whereas globally the level of economic development has improved in many regions, global population continues to rise and problems of poverty persist in rural, largely agricultural areas. Africa has been particularly vulnerable although environmental degradation and natural resource scarcities and concerns abound in all regions. Recent worldwide attention is highlighting the critical role that agriculture plays in sustainable development. For example, for the first time in a generation, the World Bank has profiled the essential role played by agriculture in global development by dedicating its 2008 World Development Report to “Agriculture for Development.” The report emphasizes the critical need for heightened global investment in sustainable agriculture. http://www.worldbank.org/wdr2008 In another important arena, negotiators at the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization seek to achieve consensus on a new trade regime that will permit partners to better and more fairly trade agricultural products and services along with a range of other goods. In the United States, Congress and the Administration seek to negotiate and pass a new Farm Bill to authorize ongoing and new programs, setting the agricultural policy course in the United States for the next five years. Against this dynamic backdrop, CSD 16/17 presents an opportunity for the United States to highlight some of its most important initiatives, programs and information sources relating to the six themes of the meeting. In the following report, major Agency programs - both domestic and international - that address problems of sustainable agriculture and rural development, along with land, drought and desertification are highlighted. United States contributions to African development are also included. The United States Government also wants to emphasize the important role of our significant partnerships: with the nongovernmental sector (non-profit, commercial, academic/science community), with local governments, and with our international partners. This Report is meant to be indicative rather than exhaustive and directs the reader to websites where more comprehensive accounts are available. The United States looks forward to sharing and learning as part of the CSD16/17 process. Historically, the core of sustainable development in the United States was agriculture. Now the percentage of the population engaged in production agriculture is less than 2 percent of the population. At the same time, U.S. agriculture feeds not only U.S. consumers but exported $81.9 billion worth of agricultural products in 2007 with the expectation of $101 billion in 2008. Every dollar of farm exports creates another $1.48 in supporting activities to process, package, finance and ship agricultural products. Although U.S. agriculture is the most productive in the world, the challenges and opportunities of feeding an increasing global population with growing incomes along with rising biofuel demand and rising oil prices will require sound management of fertilizer, land, energy, pest control and water inputs, to address natural resource and environmental issues cost-effectively. Other important issues are associated with biosafety assessments of emerging biological technologies and conservation of genetic resources. Finally, consumer preferences have encouraged the certification of organic producers and finding ways to ensure connections between farms and urban farmers’ markets to offer healthful, fresh foods. A few key challenges include helping to maintain small and mid-sized operation farmers by facilitating linkages to local and regional markets and assisting them to maintain farm and wilderness lands as urban areas expand. As a whole, the U.S. farming community has made considerable strides in moving to agricultural practices that have lower impacts on the environment and are more sustainable. U.S. Agriculture is often viewed as large corporate farms driven only to achieve high productivity. In reality, the two million U.S. farms range from small, part-time operations to large family or corporate full-time, highly productive operations. Ninety-five percent of U.S. farms remain family-owned. Perhaps most telling, while there used to be a lot of skepticism about whether agriculture could be both profitable and sustainable, in recent decades some integrated, sustainable farm management practices have become not only fashionable but mainstream. The soil erosion rate on U.S. croplands has been reduced by 40 percent since the 1980s while use of no- and minimum tillage has increased significantly. Droughts have been met with better land and water management practices, preventing a recurrence of the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. Pesticide use has dropped with the increased adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), and increased use of insect-resistant crops. At the same time, U.S. agriculture has continued to increase its productivity so that the demands of growing populations for food, fiber, and more recently biofuels, have been met, without bringing new lands into production and without increases in most agricultural inputs. Fertilizer use has remained relatively steady for the last two decades, for example. Importantly, over the past few decades agriculture has been changing from a commodity and production-driven system to one that is global and consumer-driven. Consumers care about the safety, nutrition, and quality of their food more than ever. They also care about how and where their food is grown and produced. Many discerning consumers are concerned about “not only maintaining, but improving our land and water resources in order to assure food and other necessities for the future.” (United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Gale A. Buchanan’s Speech, March 2008, SARE 20th Anniversary). While U.S. agricultural success has depended on several factors, three contributing elements have emerged as being especially important: First, creating institutions—both public and private—that are appropriate to the dynamic needs of the era. One enduring example first created a century and a half ago, in the mid-1800s, as a new model of higher education attuned to the agricultural needs and opportunities of the country at that time was the land grant college and university system. Over generations, it has trained many cadres of U.S. and international agriculturalists, natural resource managers, land care overseers and rural development practitioners in the public and private sectors who have led the innovations that are so necessary to a thriving and sustainable sector. Just as importantly, the research-based outreach and extension programs that the U.S. land grant institutions offer have worked locally and in partnerships in rural and urban settings to respond to changing needs throughout the farm, community and forest sectors for youth, farmers and families. Other government sponsored programs have encouraged collaborative efforts among farmers and communities, have enhanced access to needed capital, and have helped producers manage risks. Institutions such as farmer cooperatives and other producer groups--by pooling resources and capabilities-- are a case in point and have contributed to U.S. economic development. All in all, these democratically–designed and partnership-driven structures that undergird the agricultural and natural resource sectors have served the United States well – and will continue to do so as they evolve into a future with increasing focus on sustainability. A second related factor contributing to the success of U.S. agriculture is an ongoing, heavy investment in science and its applications. Through investments in research in laboratories, research stations, and on farms and by discovering and then using new and better ways of growing, managing, husbanding, harvesting, transporting, and marketing a bounty of agricultural and forest products, U.S. agriculture, communities, and consumers have prospered along with global consumers and producers The United States recognizes that significant benefits come from research collaboration internationally where the United States has been the largest supporter of the international research centers known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. The United States has benefited greatly from the premium it has placed on knowledge (including traditional) and its creation and its application to meet needs. Over time investments in science and technology lead in new directions offering new opportunities. U.S. agriculture has evolved through multiple technological “revolutions” in different eras including mechanical- (e.g. the tractor), chemical- (pesticides), and biological (conventional plant breeding and biotechnology). Contributions of each “revolution” enrich and remain part of the sustainable agricultural tool chest. A third element of success focuses on the incredibly powerful tools offered by computer and information technologies. These are helping us discover more, manage more sustainably, grow more smartly, and engage more broadly within the United States and abroad. With the advent of the internet, geographical information systems, nano-technologies and other advanced information and communication devices, information is ever more manageable and accessible at home and abroad. The example of electronic delivered extension advice – through an initiative called eXtension (see Agriculture section for more details) – is just one example of the transformative capabilities the digital age provides. Our agricultural programs do not stop at our borders. Along with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. Peace Corps, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and others provide leadership for U.S. international agricultural programs. These efforts reflect the diversity of our interests in agriculture and run the gamut – from market development and trade to research and policy development, from climate change and environmental protection to land tenure and property rights, and soil conservation and watershed management to livestock health and veterinary services. Increasingly, many of these programs work through partnerships with local communities, governments at all levels, non-government organizations, the private sector and foundations. More information on these international programs is available within each of the thematic sections of this report. Turning to rural development, as in most developed countries, the number of U.S. farms and farmers has dropped steadily as economics has encouraged larger farms and more off-farm opportunities along with the growth of cities. Thus, rural development and farming are no longer the same thing in the United States. Progressively fewer farms mean that fewer rural people and communities derive their incomes from farming activities. As the number of agriculturalists and farmers has declined in much of the country, some but not all farm communities have adjusted to the evolution of agriculture by diversifying their economic base. Agri-tourism, recreation, the growth of retirement communities in smaller towns or alternative productive activities have arisen. Expanding demand for bio-fuels is stimulating increased agricultural activity in some areas. In other cases, rural communities have lost population and shrunk along with their agricultural base. Overall, rural sustainability and the well-being of rural people depend on meeting needs for economic and community development along with access to social services including health care and education. Many of our rural areas developed originally as a result of farming and farming cooperatives that solidified social and market networks. Today’s communities seek alternative connections. Increasingly, they are becoming electronically linked with internet access increasing rural access to knowledge and markets. Notably, a $1.6 billion investment in loans to rural communities has granted internet access to thousands of communities and nearly 600,000 individuals. Internet connectivity enables access to information, services, and markets. Informational services are now available online; the United States Department of Agriculture recently launched its eXtension services in 2008, connecting research from 74 Universities to over 300,000 practitioners weekly. The U.S. land base is extremely heterogeneous and ownership and control ranges from public to private. It includes forests, grassland pastures, rangelands and croplands along with parks, residential areas, special-use parks and wildlife areas. Agricultural policies aimed at improving environmental performance often “pay” farmers for employing land use or management changes that result in enhanced environmental services. An important example is the Conservation Reserve Program that provides rental payments to producers who agree to take their fragile land out of production for 10-15 year contract periods. Each of these land types and ownership/property rights models has taught the United States lessons that have evolved over time and are discussed below. Just as access to land and farming were essential to the development of the U.S. economy, property rights for land in agriculture and forestry continue to play an essential role in the development of emerging economies around the world. Throughout its history, the United States has experienced droughts that threatened livelihoods within the affected regions. Work is still underway to adequately respond to these threats. Irrigation infrastructure has been a focus for agriculture in many drought-prone areas. Additionally, much effort has been made to sharpen our predictive ability to prepare for extreme dry spells; our scientific tools for drought and desertification risk assessment and weather prediction are accessible on web platforms. We also continue to develop strategies for mitigating the impact of drought while at the same time we are developing plants and animals that can tolerate dry conditions. Our scientific tools for drought and desertification risk assessment and weather prediction are accessible online and are web-accessible. Internationally, U.S. development efforts in Africa focus on developing governance structures that support successful entrepreneurship and the hard-work and ingenuity of people. Our United States Agency for International Development, and our Millennium Challenge Corporation fight corruption, support good governance, empower women and youth, and transfer capacity, knowledge, and hope. The U.S. Government has a long history of economic development, public health (e.g. HIV/AIDS), and agricultural involvement in Africa. U.S. Official Development Assistance (ODA) disbursements to Sub-Saharan Africa increased from $1.4 billion in 2001 to $5.6 billion in 2006. Much of the success enjoyed by the United States has been grounded in the thriving network of partnerships – domestic and international, governmental and non-governmental - that help to clearly define needs, formulate priority approaches to meeting those needs, discovering new and better ways of responding to them, and then making broad use of new tools. Indeed, most all of the programs and activities listed in this report depend upon an array of international, national, regional, state and/or local partnerships for success. Evolution of the U.S. agri-food system continues at a rapid pace in the United States and has led to significant structural changes. Industrialization and increasingly tight integration or coordination of stages of the value chain from input suppliers to producers to final consumers is increasing along with concentration and competition. There is an increasingly bimodal distribution of a growing number of small, “lifestyle” operators producing a small and declining share of all farm output and a growing number of large farms producing most of the commercial agricultural products. The industrialization process has resulted in increasing integration/coordination between the stages of production, processing and marketing. Another result is the de-linking of production agriculture from rural well-being. Production agriculture in the United States is increasingly driven from farther up the value chain. In addition, globalization is increasingly prevalent in both the sourcing and marketing of agricultural products. . (Council on Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics: Improving Information about America’s Farms and Ranches: A Review of the Census of Agriculture: Washington, D.C., March 2007). There are over two million farmers in the Unites States. Agriculture – the science and practice of activities related to production, processing, marketing, distribution, utilization, and trade of food, feed and fiber – is a multi-billion dollar business; in 2006, the U.S. cash receipts from farm marketing totaled $239 billion. The USDA is the primary agency that supports U.S. agriculture, while other government agencies provide related programs. Internationally, along with the USDA, USAID, MCC, the U.S. Peace Corps, USTR and others provide leadership for U.S. international agricultural programs. In this section we highlight services that support domestic and international agriculture such as programs in research and extension, agricultural statistics, trade, food safety, family and consumer sciences, forestry, agroforestry, biotechnology, veterinary medicine, wildlife, fisheries, nutrition and organic certification, weather prediction and risk management. We also address a number of emerging opportunities and challenges: bioenergy, biodiversity in agriculture, sustainable agriculture business practice, and food security. II.1. Domestically-Focused Agencies and Programs USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. Its Strategic Plan describes Departmental priorities and goals http://www.ocfo.usda.gov/usdasp/usdasp.htm. Several agencies within USDA carry out programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17 topics. These agencies include the following: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the strategic marketing of agricultural products in domestic and international markets while ensuring fair trading practices and promoting a competitive and efficient marketplace. AMS provides farmers with market data to inform decision-making for six commodity programs – cotton, dairy, fruit and vegetables, livestock and seed, poultry, and tobacco. http://www.ams.usda.gov/ An example of an AMS program that is relevant to CSD 16/17 follows – The National Organic Program (NOP) regulations require that agricultural products labeled as organic originate from farms or handling operations certified by a State or private entity that has been accredited by USDA. The regulations prohibit the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge in organic production and handling. As a general rule, all natural (non-synthetic) substances are allowed in organic production and all synthetic substances are prohibited. The NOP also provides rules for labeling of organic products. http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm. ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to:
ARS performs research at about 100 locations—some international--often in science partnerships with others. ARS conducts 1,200 research projects within 22 National Programs, employs 2,100 scientists, 6,000 other employees, and had a $1.1 billion fiscal year 2007 budget. Publications: ARS scientists publish results of their research as articles in refereed journals and as books or book chapters. ARS also produce less technical newsletters and reports for non-specialists. Many can be located at the following link: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=1279 Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems supports researchers at 70 locations throughout the United States to develop the technologies and strategies needed to help farmers, ranchers, and other managers become effective stewards of the diverse agricultural ecosystems across the Nation. Programs include the Water Availability and Watershed Management Program; the Soil and Air Resource Management Program; the Bioenergy Program; the Agricultural Waste and Byproduct Utilization Program; the Pasture, Forage and Range Land Systems Program. http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/locations/locations.htm?modecode=02-02-00-00 The Middle East Regional Irrigation Management Information System (IMIS) project is a multilateral project bringing together participants from Israel, Jordan, Palestinian Authority, and the United States http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=407062. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. The agency improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness and contributes to the national economy and the public health. APHIS responds to conflicts between humans and wildlife, addresses trade barriers related to animal and plant health (commonly known as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues), and ensures that biotechnology-derived agricultural products are safe and that pests are not released into the environment. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ An example of an APHIS program that is relevant to CSD 16/17 follows: The U.S. Government uses a coordinated, risk-based system to ensure new biotechnology products are safe for the environment and human and animal health. http://U.S.biotechreg.nbii.gov/ Crops that have been deregulated by APHIS can be found at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/not_reg.html. Crops registered by U.S. EPA can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/pips/pip_list.htm. Information on the International Biosafety Clearinghouse as prescribed by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety can be found at: http://U.S.biotechreg.nbii.gov/capacity.asp Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/ Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) works in partnership with land-grant universities, and other public and private organizations to advance a global system of extramural research, extension, and higher education in the food and agricultural sciences. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/ Examples of CSREES programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17 include: eXtension is an internet-based educational environment that provides the most current, objective research-based information from the academic research institutes. eXtension now offers information on consumer horticulture, parenting, dairy cattle, entrepreneurship, personal finance, horses, wildlife damage management, and imported fire ants. http://www.extension.org/ eOrganic, a subset of eXtension, is designed to provide information relevant to organic production systems. http://asap.sustainability.uiuc.edu/org-ag/eorgv2/ Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) supports research, education and professional development on sustainable agriculture, primarily through competitive grants that are offered through four regions under the direction of councils that include farmers and ranchers along with representatives from universities, government, agribusiness and nonprofit organizations. SARE’s national outreach office publishes practical how-to books, bulletins and web resources for farmers, ranchers and educators. Integrated Organic Program provides competitive grants to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. See the CSREES Organic Agriculture page for information on IOP and related activities. CSREES also has programs in manure management, precision farming, small farms, and other relevant topics in its Agricultural Systems National Emphasis Area, which also links to programs in natural resources and the environment, plant and animal management, pest management, biotechnology and genomics, and other areas. Economic Research Service (ERS) is USDA’s principal social science research agency. Each year, ERS communicates research results and socioeconomic indicators via briefings, analyses for policymakers and their staffs, market analysis updates, and major reports. http://www.ers.usda.gov/ Farm Service Agency (FSA) implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster and farm marketing programs through a national network of offices. http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) increases food security and reduces hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/default.htm Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) enhances public health and well-being by protecting the public from foodborne illness and ensuring that the nation’s meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, and correctly packaged. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ Examples of FSIS programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17 include: As a result of its Food Inspection Programs, FSIS inspects and monitors all meat, poultry and egg products sold in interstate and foreign commerce to ensure compliance with mandatory U.S. food safety standards and inspection legislation. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/federal_inspection_programs/index.asp FSIS provides educational materials for consumers about the importance of safe food handling and how to reduce the risks of food-borne illness. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/index.asp FSIS works to improve the science base for inspection procedures and detection of pathogens, how to control pathogens, and evaluating the risks of food-borne pathogens. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/index.asp Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products, and operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace. http://www.fas.usda.gov/ Forest Service (FS) sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. http://www.fs.fed.us/ The Forest Service offers several programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17. They include: Range Management Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable: http://sustainableRangelands.cnr.colostate.edu Society for Range Management: http://srm.org Forest Service Rangelands: http://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands/ Biodiversity Pollinators: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/index.shtml Wildflowers: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ Native plant material: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/nativeplantmaterials/index.shtml Invasive species: http://www.fs.fed.us./invasivespecies/ Migratory birds: http://www.fs.fed.us/biology/wildlife/partnersinflight.html Agroforestry Practices National Agroforestry Center: http://www.unl.edu/nac Landcare Partnerships U.S. Landcare: http://www.landcarecentral.org Water Availability and Quality Green Lands, Blue Waters in the Mississippi River Basin: http://www.greenlandsbluewaters.org. Upper Mississippi River Forest Partnership: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/watershed/upper_mississippi_partnership/ Middle Mississippi River Partnership: http://www.swircd.org/mmrp/ The Chesapeake Bay Program: http://www.chesapeakebay.net Bioenergy, Bio-based Products, Biomass Fuels for Schools and Beyond:http://fuelsforschools.org Managing and Using Biomass for Energy and Other uses: http://www.fs.fed.us/research/pdf/biomass_importance.pdf Forest Products Laboratory: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/ Biobased Products: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techline/using-waste-wood-and-bark-to-filter-contaminants-from-water.pdf Biomass: http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov Gathering and Subsistence (Food) Non-timber forest products: http://www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu/sfp_link/general.htm Federal Subsistence Management Program for rural Alaskans: The Forest Service manages over 22 million acres of public lands and waters in Alaska to provide the opportunity for a subsistence way of life by rural Alaskans. http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/index.cfm Integrated Approaches to Planning and Management of Land Resources Green infrastructure: http://www.greeninfrastructure.net Healthy forests and rangelands, including National Fire Plan: http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov Wildland fire safety and risk management: www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/index.html Forest health protection, including protection from spread of invasives: http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth Forest-based ecosystem services: http://www.fs.fed.us/ecosystemservices/ Cooperative Services and Cross-Boundary Coordination Service First—Working Together Partnership of federal public land management agencies: http://www.fs.fed.us/servicefirst/ Private landowner network: http://www.privatelandownernetwork.org Protecting ‘working forest lands” and open space through cooperative forestry: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop; and urban and community forestry: http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf Long-term Monitoring and Assessment of Resource Conditions Forest land: http://www.fs.fed.us/research/ Nation’s ecosystems: http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/ Multi-stakeholder indicator processes/ forums related to forests, rangelands, water: Roundtable on Sustainable Forests (http://www.sustainableforests.net); Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable http://sustainableRangelands.cnr.colostate.edu Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable (http://acwi.gov/swrr/) Conservation Education and Partnerships Education resources: http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/ce/index.cfm Partnership resources: http://www.fs.fed.us/aboutus/partnership/index.shtml Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) facilitates marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products. http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/GIPSA/webapp?area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing National Agricultural Library (NAL) ensures and enhances access to agricultural information for a better quality of life. http://www.nal.usda.gov/ Examples of NAL programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17 include: A special initiative to provide information on sustainable agriculture through Sustainable Agriculture Information Access Tools: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/agnic/susag.shtml The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) which specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices in support of USDA's effort to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers worldwide. http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?tax_level=1&info_center=2 National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) serves the basic agricultural and rural data needs of the country by providing objective, important and accurate statistical information and services to farmers, ranches, agribusinesses and public officials. These data are vital to monitoring the ever-changing agricultural sector and carrying out farm policy. http://www.nass.usda.gov/ Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ Examples of NRCS programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17 include: The Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Program provides technical assistance supported by science-based technology and tools to help people conserve, maintain, and improve their natural resources. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cta/ Targeted Incentives for Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Sequestration. USDA provides targeted incentives through its conservation programs to encourage wider use of land management and production practices that sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. USDA’s actions include financial incentives, technical assistance, demonstrations, pilot programs, education and capacity building, along with measurements to assess the success of these efforts. USDA also provides financial and technical assistance to help farmers install renewable energy systems and make improvements in energy efficiency that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), USDA encourages landowners to remove environmentally sensitive cropland from production and to install vegetative covers that sequester carbon. In addition, CRP gives landowners the right to sell carbon credits generated from lands enrolled in the program; current enrollment is 3 6.8 million acres. In 2006, carbon sequestration on CRP lands was estimated at 50.6 million metric tons CO 2. Additionally, reductions in CO 2 and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions associated with reduced field operations and less use of nitrogen fertilizers were estimated at 9 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) USDA provides cost-sharing and incentive payments for conservation practices on working farm lands. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) delivers guidance to its state offices to reward and recognize actions that provide greenhouse gas benefits within the EQIP ranking systems. By including this ranking criterion, NRCS can provide cost-share assistance to livestock producers to install greenhouse gas mitigating technologies, including construction of methane digesters. Producers who improve the quality of their nutrient management systems by achieving a higher level of nitrogen use efficiency can also be rewarded. The Conservation Security Program (CSP) promotes the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life on Tribal and private working agricultural lands. CSP has emerged as a significant contributor within the area of carbon management through enhancement activities that promote carbon sequestration. Since its inception in 2004, over 22.4 million collective acres have been engaged in soil management activities to improve carbon levels in soils. Finally, USDA provides Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to fund the application and demonstration of innovative technologies and approaches to conservation issues. Many of the awards made through the program have greenhouse gas benefits. For example, farm-level wind and solar power projects reduce CO 2 emissions, and new technologies for livestock manure management and fertilizer application reduce methane and N 2 O emissions. For more information, please visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/. Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) advises the USDA Secretary on the economic situation in agricultural markets and the economic implications of policies and programs affecting American agriculture and rural communities. OCE serves as the focal point for economic intelligence and analysis related to agricultural markets and for risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis related to USDA’s regulations affecting food and agriculture. http://www.usda.gov/oce/ OCE also coordinates cross-cutting issues within USDA such as Global Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Energy, etc. Examples of publications relevant to CSD 16/17 follow: The Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WWCB) is jointly prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the USDA. The WWCB provides a vital source of information on weather, climate and agricultural developments worldwide, along with detailed charts and tables of agrometeorological information that are appropriate for the season. http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/Weekly/Wwcb/index.htm Weather related publications include International Weather and Crop Highlights, A Global Crop Production Review, climatic profiles for major world crop areas, and a drought monitor covering all of North America. http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/index.htm http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/DroughtMonitor/index.htm Risk Management Agency (RMA) helps to ensure that farmers have the financial tools necessary to manage their agricultural risks. RMA provides coverage through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, which promotes national welfare by improving the economic stability of agriculture. In so doing, RMA helps producers manage their business risks through effective, market based risk management solutions. RMA’s mission is to promote, support, and regulate sound risk management solutions to preserve and strengthen the economic stability of America’s agricultural producers. As part of this mission, RMA operates and manages the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). http://www.rma.usda.gov/ Rural Development (RD) helps rural areas to develop and grow by offering Federal assistance that improves quality of life. RD targets communities in need and then empowers them with financial and technical resources. Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements for Agriculture. USDA's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and improve energy efficiency. From Fiscal Year 2003 to Fiscal Year 2006, the program has invested $122 million in renewable energy systems and energy efficiency projects, leveraging approximately $1 billion in outside funding sources. Over this period, the program helped finance approximately 340 renewable energy systems and over 400energy efficiency improvements. USDA estimates that these may achieve an energy savings amounting to 1,960 kilowatt hours, displacing 6.6 million barrels of oil and an estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 1 million metric tons of carbon. For more information, please visit: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html. Other Relevant U.S. Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of State issued a brochure in 2007 titled “U.S. Actions to Address Energy Security, Clean Development and Climate Change” which provides information about a number of relevant programs across the U.S. government. http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/or/97380.htm The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides up to date weather information: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) produces global tropics benefits/hazards assessments in collaboration with other NOAA centers including the Earth System Research Laboratory, the National Hurricane Center, and select National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices. The Center’s purpose is to provide emergency managers, planners, forecasters and the public with interests across the global tropics advance notice of potential hazards related to climate, weather and hydrological events. Currently, the type of outlooks provided include forecasts of enhanced or suppressed rainfall, and periods of favorable or unfavorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis for the week 1 and week 2 time frame. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/MJO/mjo.shtml#discU.S.sion The Smithsonian Institution's many research programs in biodiversity, wildlife, ecosystems and culture support our understanding of the natural world and sustainable development (http://www.si.edu/research/). Work ranges from understanding the variety and distribution of biodiversity through impacts of invasive species in terrestrial and coastal communities and their impact on productivity and species composition at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (http://www.serc.si.edu/research/index.jsp) and National Museum of Natural History (http://www.mnh.si.edu/rc). The Systematics Entomology Laboratory of the USDA (http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-75-41-00) is housed at, and uses the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to identify plant pests and understand their relationships. The Smithsonian houses the Secretariat of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (http://barcoding.si.edu/) which is developing new technologies which will enable the speedy identification of organisms used in agriculture, in commerce, and agricultural pests to enable faster and more effective research, management and enforcement. Its education and capacity building programs range from K-12 programs and exhibits, including the new National Museum of Natural History exhibit on Soils to post-doctoral fellowships at all of the Smithsonian centers (http://www.si.edu/ofg/SORScontents.htm). The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (http://folklife.si.edu/index.html) puts on a yearly Folklife Festival on the National Mall which always has well-researched components on foodways and agriculture from the U.S. and international participants, bringing a richer understanding of the variety and needs of the agricultural communities to the U.S. public. USDA and its many partners offer additional CSD 16/17-relevant programs such as: ATTRA is a project of the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service that provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States. Agriculture in the Classroom is a grassroots program coordinated by USDA. Its goal is to help elementary and high school students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies. http://www.agclassroom.org/aitc/index.htm The Precision Agriculture Center has a mission to foster the use of tools such as remote sensing, soil sampling and information management techniques to optimize agricultural production. The Center conducts research and offers training in the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing to target inputs and management practices to variable field conditions. These technologies take into account unique soil/landscape characteristics and pest presence, resulting in higher profits and better environmental protection. http://precision.agri.umn.edu/index.html Agricultural Biotechnology is a farm tool that contributes to sustainable development; available technologies offer crops that are resistant to insect pests and diseases, and to herbicides, which reduce the need for agricultural inputs such as pesticides and can also reduce the pressure to convert fragile lands to agricultural production. Technologies that are under development such as stress tolerance or greater nutritional content will contribute to sustainable approaches in the future. http://www.ncfap.org/whatwedo/pdf/2005biotechimpacts-finalversion.pdf http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/37/executivesummary/default.html http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Biotechnology/ USDA, in partnership with the Cooperative Extension System and U.S. universities, delivers community-based Nutrition Education Programs that help individuals, families, and communities make informed choices about food and lifestyles that support their physiological health, economic, and social well-being. The programs also provide policymakers with the knowledge to make appropriate policies for our citizens. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nutrition.cfm Partnerships for Cooperative Conservation. USDA works in partnership with numerous organizations to promote conservation. Some partnerships that are relevant to CSD 16/17 include: U.S. Landcare: http://www.landcarecentral.org Green Infrastructure: http://www.greeninfrastructure.net/ Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable: http://SustainableRangelands.cnr.colostate.edu NYC Watershed Partnership: http://www.epa.gov/innovation/collaboration/nyc.pdf The Pollinator Partnership: http://www.pollinator.org. Green Lands, Blue Waters: http://www.greenlandsbluewaters.org. Mississippi River Partnerships: http://rivermap.org The Chesapeake Bay Program: http://www.chesapeakebay.net Resource Conservation and Development Councils: http://www.rcdnet.org/ Service First: http://www.doi.gov/partnerships/service_first.html Integrated Pest Management World Textbook features contributed chapters by internationally recognized experts. The website provides an electronic alternative or complement to printed textbooks for communicating information on integrated pest management (IPM). http://ipmworld.umn.edu/ USDA and its partners provide informational resources to help consumers plan a healthy diet. Special-need diets (during pregnancy and breast feeding, for children, and for vegetarians) are also covered as are culturally-based diets. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/ The Land-Grant University (LGU) System is a vast network of thousands of scientists, educators, and extension staff and volunteers, who carry out the USDA programs throughout the United States, its territories, and beyond. There are one or more LGU institutions in each U.S. state and territory and in the District of Columbia. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/partnerships.html USDA’s Cooperative Extension System (CES) is administered through an extensive network of Land-Grant administered state, regional, and county extension offices in every U.S. state and territory. With 2,900 field offices, the CES responds to public inquiries and conducts informal, noncredit workshops and other educational events. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/extension.html USDA also supports a system of State Agriculture Experiment Stations (SAES) which are designed as federated, yet independent, research institutions in each State and territory to address the location-specific problems of farmers and to build a core of basic scientific knowledge related to agriculture. Websites for each State’s Experiment Stations can be found by web-searching for “Agricultural Experiment Station” and the name of the State. The Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility conducts experiments examining the relationships between sustainability and external inputs in an arid climate. The facility has numerous ongoing long-term experiments that study irrigation water, fertilizer, carbon inputs, and farming practices and economic and environmental factors that influence yield and farm viability. Research results provide direction for agricultural policies that affect farm sustainability. http://asi.ucdavis.edu/ The Soil Quality website contains soil quality management data. Along with basic information about soils, indicators and management practices, the site hosts the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). The SMAF index includes indicators that use the management goals of the site, associated soil functions, and other site specific factors like region or crop sensitivity to determine a decision making framework to work from when planning management of a site. http://soilquality.org/ SERA-17 is an organization to minimize phosphorus losses from agriculture. SERA-17 consists of research scientists, policy makers, extension personnel, and educators. The mission of SERA-17 is to develop and promote innovative solutions to minimize phosphorus losses from agriculture by supporting 1) information exchange between research, extension, and regulatory communities, 2) development of recommendations for phosphorus management and research and 3) initiatives that address phosphorus loss in agriculture. http://www.sera17.ext.vt.edu/ Longer Term Research, Education and Extension (LTAR-EE) is a multiple disciplinary approach to better understand ecosystem services in agriculture, encouraging strong collaboration and coordination strategies among university faculty in research, education, and extension. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/in_focus/ecosystems_if_long_term_research.html USDA-ARS Collaboration with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) ARS and the CGIAR have collaborated over time. Currently, ARS and the CGIAR centers have sixteen formal, active projects, including high priority research with partner CGIAR centers in the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative to find sources of genetic resistance to the increasingly mobile UG99 strain. Additionally, ARS has active involvement in the Harvest Plus initiative for bio-fortification of staple crops and has representatives in the Scientific Liaison Officer program funded by USAID that partners senior U.S scientists with CGIAR centers to promote international linkages. The diversity of research projects carried out is broad with partners at eight of the CGIAR centers in the following areas: and away from production areas II.2. Internationally-Focused Agencies and Programs The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is a federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. The Agency supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting programs that enhance economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and democracy, conflict and humanitarian assistance. USAID provides assistance in five regions of the world: Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Eurasia and the Middle East. The Agency’s Strategic Plan is at http://www.usaid.gov/policy/coordination/stratplan_fy07-12.html An overview of USAID’s agricultural portfolio of programs focused on agricultural markets and trade, biotechnology, climate change, environmental compliance, food security, forestry, irrigation/water, land management, livestock, outreach and training, policy development, research, and sustainable development is provided at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/agriculture/ USAID’s Agricultural Strategy which focuses on linking producers to markets is available at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/agriculture/ag_strategy_9_04_508.pdf The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a United States Government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world. Established in 2004, MCC is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people. MCC’s mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth. MCC’s efforts have a direct impact on poverty reduction, and thus on reducing food insecurity. MCC encourages the development of well-functioning markets in the agricultural and rural economy so that they contribute to efficient resource allocation, economic growth, and poverty reduction. Within the context of the agricultural sector and rural economy, programs are focused on public infrastructure investment and maintenance in rural areas; human capital investments in rural people through education, health care, and potable water sources; property rights laws affecting land tenure, zoning, and access to water and other natural resources; and environmental policies including preservation of protected areas, soil conservation, watershed management and pollution regulation. MCC’s interest in environmental and social sustainability is also expressed through its Guidelines for Environmental and Social Assessment and its Gender Policy. MCC has approved over U.S. $1 billion to increasing agricultural productivity and incomes in 15 countries. http://www.mcc.gov The MCC operates by developing a Compact with each partner country. A Compact is a multi-year agreement between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and an eligible country to fund specific programs targeted at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth. http://www.mcc.gov/programs/compacts.php Furthermore, the MCC’s Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that are on the “threshold,” meaning they have not yet qualified for MCA Compact funding, but have demonstrated a significant commitment to improve their performance on the eligibility criteria for MCA Compact fund. http://www.mcc.gov/programs/threshold.php The International Programs Office of the US Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, promotes sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation internationally. International Programs regularly taps into the agency's wide range of expertise. Wildlife biologists, forest economists, hydrologists, disaster and fire management specialists, and policy makers are among those who comprise the staff of over thirty thousand employees. The program has three main staff units: Technical Cooperation, Disaster Assistance and Policy. Both Technical Cooperation and Disaster Assistance work closely with USAID. Technical Cooperation develops and manages natural resource projects overseas on a wide range of topics (i.e. fire management and forest health). By linking the skills of the field-based staff of the US Forest Service with partners overseas, the Agency can address the most critical forestry issues and concerns. Disaster Assistance trains and mobilizes personnel domestically to respond and mitigate foreign disasters, such as the drought in Ethiopia and the locust response in West Africa. Finally, International Programs' policy unit is actively involved in sustainability roundtables and international forums, which ensures that U.S. position on global forest policies and agreements reflect the best interests of the country. For more information on the U.S. Forest Service’s international work go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/global The U.S. Peace Corps provides practical assistance to developing countries by sharing America’s most precious resource—its people. The close interaction between Peace Corps Volunteers and local communities has allowed the Peace Corps to establish an admirable record of service that is recognized around the world. For 47 years, Peace Corps Volunteers have helped build the path to progress with people who want a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities. Throughout the world, Peace Corps Volunteers continue to bring a spirit of hope and optimism to the struggle for progress and human dignity. At the close of FY 2007 more than 190,000 Americans have served in 139 countries. www.peacecorps.gov Peace Corps Agriculture Volunteers work with small farmers to increase food production while promoting environmental conservation practices. In 2007, 480 Peace Corps Volunteers in the Agriculture sector reached: 1,744 communities; 1,640 organizations; 23,493 men; 25,022 women; 14,249 boys (under age 25); 13,510 girls (under age 25) and 4,128 service providers. Additionally, 885 Volunteers in the Environment sector reached: 3,858 communities; 2,900 organizations; 50,997 men; 52,886 women; 65,225 boys (under age 25); 64,428 girls (under age 25) and 16,233 service providers. Agriculture Volunteer activities include agro-forestry, applied agriculture, farm management and animal husbandry and are further described here: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatvol.agr. Environment Volunteers also work in environmental education and awareness, forestry, parks and wildlife and environmental and water resources engineering. Descriptions of their activities are provided here http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatvol.env Peace Corps Response: Peace Corps Response returns exceptional Volunteers to the field in short-term, high-impact assignments that typically range from three to six months. Response Volunteers are actively engaged in providing much needed targeted assistance in a breadth of assignment areas, from HIV/AIDS activities, humanitarian assistance, post-conflict reconstruction projects as well as addressing critical needs in the areas of education and technology. Peace Corps Response speaks to the needs and interests of all involved stakeholders, retains the element of being responsive to unique and pressing situations, yet also enables U.S. to continue to broaden the scope of our projects as host-country needs develop. Descriptions of recent projects are found here http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.response.recentproj In partnership with more than 50 U.S. universities, USAID supports the Collaborative Research Support Programs (CRSPs) which are designed to expand the host country and U.S. agricultural knowledge base, offer international training and capacity building, develop long-term scientific relationships, and focus on program cost-effectiveness. The role of women as producers, processors and consumers is also a major focus of the CRSPs. There are nine CRSPs, and these are briefly described below: The Aquaculture & Fisheries CRSP implements activities intended to develop and promote more comprehensive, sustainable, ecologically and socially compatible, and economically viable aquaculture systems. It is implemented in partnership with 12 U.S. universities and host-country institutions in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Nicaragua, Guyana, Mexico, Nepal, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, China and Vietnam. http://pdacrsp.oregonstate.edu/afcrsp/ (under construction) The BASIS Assets and Market Access CRSP aims to improve the agricultural competitiveness and quality of life of the rural poor in the developing world through policy-relevant research focused on improving access to resources and enhancing the operation of markets. Key interventions are in smallholder access to markets; insurance and risk management; access to finance; asset building and pathways from poverty (includes land and property issues), and, use and sustainability of natural resources. http://www.basis.wisc.edu USAID supports a number of efforts to develop risk management mechanisms for small producers, especially for lower income country contexts. In particular, the Agency has been analyzing and piloting efforts to develop area-base yield and weather index insurance products. http://www.basis.wisc.edu A primer on weather index insurance for low income countries is available at: http://www.microlinks.org/ev_en.php?ID=14239_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC The Dry Grain Pulses CRSP supports international research partnerships to increase the availability of beans and cowpeas. Participants from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and the United States work in collaborative projects concentrating on all aspects of food handling from improved production technologies (to manage diseases and insects as well as plant growth and development stresses) or strategies through food processing and the development of value-added products, especially for urban markets. http://www.isp.msu.edu/crsp/# The Global Livestock CRSP improves food security and quality of life through collaborative research in livestock research and development. It works to improve the interaction between livestock production and natural resource use and conservation; increase the security of people whose livelihoods depend on livestock by providing mechanisms to manage risk; enhance nutritional status, and thereby increase human capacity, through the increased availability and utilization of animal source products; strengthen the capacity of institutions to identify problems in livestock production and develop appropriate solutions; and help decision makers develop policies that will promote: a) livestock production, marketing, and trade; b) human nutrition and child physical and cognitive development; and c) natural resource conservation and management. http://glcrsp.ucdavis.edu The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) CRSP combines strong regional IPM programs with projects on critical global cross-cutting themes to: measurably reduce crop and animal losses due to pests; increase farmer income; reduce pesticide use; reduce residues on export crops; improve IPM research and education program capabilities; improve ability to monitor pests; increase the abilities of women in IPM decision-making and program design. It works with colleagues in 32 different countries. http://www.oired.vt.edu/ipmcrsp/IPM_2008/draft_home.htm The Peanut CRSP seeks to enhance research capability in developing countries and the United States and to focus this capability on the alleviation of major researchable constraints, such as management of the aflatoxin problem, that limit sustainable peanut production. Research priorities, planned in conjunction with ICRISAT, include food safety and nutrition; crop production efficiency to sustain the natural resource base; socio-economic factors such as gender equity; post-harvest processing and utilization; and training and information exchange. http://168.29.148.65/home.cfm The Soil Management CRSP works with partners in resource-limited regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America to reach food security without compromising the sustainability of agro-environments. Its objectives include enabling developing country institutions to apply information technology and knowledge-based tools to increase agricultural soil productivity; enabling them to scale-up technology adoption by farmers from local to regional scales; and strengthening human and institutional capacity to combat poverty, land degradation and food insecurity. http://tpss.hawaii.edu/sm-crsp/ The Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resource Management (SANREM) CRSP promotes stakeholder empowerment and improved livelihoods through the discovery, organization and dissemination of sustainable agriculture and natural resources management knowledge. SANREM’s objectives are to increase scientific knowledge and technical innovations; improve knowledge management, education, and communication leading to the adaptation and adoption of new technologies and practices; reform and strengthen governance, policies, and local institutions; and promote the functioning of sustainable resource-based local enterprises in national, regional, and global markets. It is implemented with partners in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Website: http://www.oired.vt.edu/sanremcrsp/ The Sorghum, Millet and Other Grains CRSP focuses on enhancing production and use of sorghum, millet and some other grains (finger millet, and less known orphan crops like fonio and tef) that are widely cultivated in the sorghum/millet-based cropping systems in Africa and Central America. It has identified new farming practices that improve yields, reduce crop losses to pests and protect natural resources, and has helped to develop new markets for these important grains. Ongoing scientific collaboration helps participating countries build their crop research capacities. http://intsormil.org/ Other USAID partnership programs that are relevant to CSD 16/17 include: Food Security Cooperative Agreement III focuses on cross-country learning and policy actions to increase trade capacity and reform market systems in African countries. Mobilizing the U.S. universities’ capacities in applied policy research, the program works to build African public and private capacity in the areas of agricultural policy, resource use, and marketing chain improvements. http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/. Partnerships for Food Industry Development (PFID) – Fruits and Vegetables. This program, supported by USAID and implemented by Michigan State University as lead, mobilizes the capacities of U.S. universities in a joint university and food industry technical assistance program that identifies fresh produce markets; promotes private sector links between suppliers and buyers; and improves produce supply chains and their safety and quality systems. http://www.pfid.msu.edu/. Partnerships for Food Industry Development (PFID) – Natural Products. This program, implemented by Rutgers University as lead, mobilizes the capacities of U.S. universities in a joint university and food industry technical assistance program working in Africa to assist in the development of natural product based food industries, diversification into valuable agricultural commodities including organic and sustainable harvest certification, and post-harvest handling, processing and manufacture. http://www.pfidnp.org/. Partnerships for Food Industry Development (PFID) – Meat, Seafood and Poultry. This program, implemented by Louisiana State University as lead, mobilizes the capacities of U.S. universities in a joint university and food industry technical assistance program that provides assistance to add value, as well as meet safety and quality standards, in the production of products for domestic and international markets. http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/administration/about_us/chancellors_office/International+Programs/Projects/partnership+for+food+industry+development/phase_2/index_seriespage-4.htm. Gender Informed Nutrition and Agriculture (GINA) works with agriculture and nutrition communities to more effectively reduce poverty and malnutrition in Africa by combining scarce resources, acting together, and adequately incorporating gender analysis throughout their work. GINA focuses on agriculture-based approaches to raising income and reducing malnutrition, explicitly combining the work of agriculturalists and nutritionists, to improve nutritional outcomes of children under five years of age. http://inside.usaid.gov/EGAT/off-ag/act-gina.html. The Higher Education for Development (HED) program supports partnerships between U.S. and developing country universities and colleges, as well as public and private sector partners to strengthen the human and institutional capacity of local higher education institutions to provide quality training and degree programs, extension and technical assistance programs, and applied research. More than half of the 300 HED partnerships in 63 countries since 1999 supported rural development and 75 were directly focused on agriculture http://www.hedprogram.org/. For a set of links to agriculture partnerships, please visit http://www.hedprogram.org/WhatWeDo/InstitutionalPartnerships/PartnershipDatabase/tabid/224/id/1/filter/2/Default.aspx. Strengthening Agroforestry Education and Development in South Africa is a project that includes curriculum development in agroforestry and rural development, and works with rural people to address food security and environmental degradation. http://www.cof.orst.edu/project/usaidalo/index.htm Natural Resource Education and Research in Ethiopia is a collaborative project between the Debub University and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and Oregon State University to strengthen natural resource education and research. http://www.cof.orst.edu/project/ethiopia/ IALC Agribusiness Workshops on Linking Farmers to Markets. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in cooperation with USAID/ANE, several USAID Missions, the World Bank, the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IAMA), plus many private-sector firms and NGOs, helped organize three major workshops in Chicago, Cairo, and New Delhi on Linking Farmers to Markets. The purpose was to bring together Mission personnel, other donor agencies, private sector firms, NGOs and university researchers to jointly examine successful projects that have increased farm income and improved rural livelihoods by linking farmers to markets, especially for high-value crops, livestock, fishery and value-added products. The focus was primarily on agricultural diversification and building value-chains that have enabled producer groups to gain access to regional, national and global markets. All of these case studies and videos are available at: http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/ Increasing Access to Finance. USAID sponsors partnership programs that increase rural households’ access to finance. These efforts include educating microfinance providers on the development of products suited to rural households and the value chains in which they are engaged, as well as supporting the development of pilot products and approaches. Research is also conducted on issues of importance to rural and agriculture-based households – for example, warehouse receipts financing and leasing. http://www.microlinks.org/ev_en.php?ID=12633_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC The general website for access to tools, resources and case studies on microenterprise and microenterprise development is located at: www.microlinks.org The John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Farmer (FTF) Program transfers knowledge and expertise of U.S. agricultural producers and businesses through volunteers to middle-income and developing country host institutions. Volunteers typically work with medium and small agro-enterprises, cooperatives, individual producers, agricultural extension and research agencies, and financial institutions. Major areas of program focus include horticulture and high value crops, income diversification, dairy and livestock, producer organizations, financial services, marketing and processing, and natural resources management. Information on current implementing agencies and activities can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/agriculture/farmer_to_farmer.htm The Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR). In 1971 USAID joined with other development agencies and foundations to establish the CGIAR which conducts research on cereals and pulses, livestock, fisheries and forests, and the improved management of natural resources. This system of Centers has an overall mandate of science serving the poor – helping to end hunger by combating poverty through income growth, and conserving the natural environment. www.CGIAR.org The new USAID/El Salvador Agricultural Diversification Program helps farmers and small and medium enterprises increase domestic sales and exports of non-traditional, high-value agriculture products including fruits and vegetables and specialty coffee. This Program is improving value-added processing, increasing access to markets, building long-term business relationships and introducing new agricultural technologies. It stimulates job creation and investments, and increases sales of horticulture products including short-term cycle fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, specialty coffee, as well as tackles SPS issues facing the private sector. http://www.usaid.gov/sv/development.html USAID/Panama finances activities to abate the threats to biodiversity including promotion of environmentally-friendly agricultural activities in the Panama Canal Watershed. This includes identification and promotion of best management practices for a number of income and job generation activities through training and demonstration projects, promotion of sustainable cattle ranching which helps cattle farms adopt best practices, establishing a network of tree nurseries, the promotion, production, collection, and commercialization of chicken products, and providing technical assistance for developing business plans. http://www.usaidcbcpanama.org Alternative Development and Livelihoods Support. A significant portion of USAID’s economic growth assistance in the Latin America and Caribbean region is focused on helping to link markets to producers on a sustainable basis. In the Andean Region, much of the alternative development assistance focuses on helping small-scale producers to grow crops that can be marketed on a sustainable basis in lieu of the illicit production of coca. For the Programa Áreas de Desarrollo Alternativo Municipal (ADAM): www.adam.org.co and for the Programa Mas Inversión de Desarrollo Alternativo Sostenible (MIDAS): www.midas.org.co. Trade Expansion. For the growing number of countries participating in free trade agreements with the United States, notably CAFTA-DR, small-scale producers are being assisted to sustainably produce higher-value crops and value-added products, while assistance also has been provided to help small-scale coffee growers to become more competitive in higher-value niche markets. Further, USAID also provides support to small-scale basic grain producers in assessing local, regional, national and export (under free trade agreements) market potential. http://qesdb.usaid.gov/tcb/index.html Biotechnology and Biosafety. USAID has forged partnerships with public and private sector institutions in the United States and in our partner countries to make the tools of modern biotechnology available to farmers and scientists in developing countries. USAID biotechnology and biosafety programs are aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, generating income for small holder farmers and enhancing the policy environment for agriculture. The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program II, a consortium of public and private sector institutions led by Cornell University and supported by USAID, focuses on the safe and effective deployment of biotech crops to help boost food security, economic growth, nutrition and environmental quality in East and West Africa, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. ABSPII technology development projects include an insect resistant eggplant and disease resistant banana and potato. http://www.absp2.cornell.edu The Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) is managed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). PBS receives USAID support to work with our partner countries in Africa and Asia on the responsible and safe use of agricultural biotechnology by supporting the development and implementation of national biosafety systems. PBS works through a variety of partner–driven activities and initiatives including training workshops, a competitive grants program, biosafety policy analysis and policy development, and consultative guidance on biotechnology product development. http://www.ifpri.org/pbs/pbs.asp The South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP), a USAID supported collaboration between Agriculture & Biotechnology Strategies (AGBIOS) Canada and IFPRI, is dedicated to assisting the Governments of Bangladesh and India to further strengthen the institutional governance of biotechnology. The program builds on existing efforts by providing expert, directed policy advice to agencies responsible for the regulation of biotech crops and conducting relevant and timely biosafety policy studies with national partners. SABP has assisted with the revision and implementation of guidelines for the safe management of confined field trials, for science-based risk assessments of food safety for biotech crops, and in the development and implementation of national biosafety systems. http://www.agbios.com/sabp_main.php USAID provides support to the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), an organization that facilitates public-private partnerships to access proprietary technology and deliver technology products through the local private sector in Africa. AATF has assisted with the delivery of striga-resistant maize varieties and has established international partnerships for the development of insect resistant cowpea, water efficient maize and nitrogen use efficient rice. http://www.aatf-africa.org The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program is a USAID-managed, peer-reviewed, competitive research grants program specifically focused on promoting technical cooperation between Arab and Israeli scientists, students and communities on topics relevant to development in the Middle East. The bulk of the research grants fall within agriculture, environment, or health. Water is an important sector, due to its importance to the region. MERC presently funds about 35 ongoing joint Arab-Israeli projects involving scientists and institutions in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, West Bank/Gaza, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the United States. The link to MERC on the National Academy of Science website: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/dsc/USAID_MERC_Program.html. Inside is another link to program guidelines: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/dsc/1USAID_MERC_Guidelines_2007.html II.3. Emerging Opportunities and Challenges Emerging technologies present opportunity as well as challenges. This section identifies U.S. programs in a number of high profile thematic areas such as biofuels, pesticide safety and alternatives, sustainable agricultural business practices, preservation of agricultural biodiversity, and food security programs. II. 3.1. Biofuels, Energy Efficiency and Bio-based Products - The U.S. Government is working in a number of ways to ensure sustainable use and production of biofuels. The recently passed Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) improves biofuels sustainability by, mandating minimum reductions for lifecycle GHG emissions from renewable fuels, defining renewable fuels as those produced on land previously cleared for cultivation prior to enactment of EISA (December 2007), discouraging potentially detrimental land-use changes, and setting a 15 billion gallon cap on first generation starch based ethanol that meets the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) with the aim of minimizing food security and environmental concerns. There are a number of environmental and food security concerns associated with biofuels. The USG is deeply concerned about the role of biofuel production in deforestation and biodiversity loss, and we are working to minimize those impacts. We also believe that biofuels are only one of a number of factors contributing to rising food prices. The USG is investing in R&D of next generation cellulosic biofuels, which can both minimize food security concerns and lead to more GHG reductions. Next-generation biofuels made from plant fiber (not food or feed crops) can potentially lead to an overall life-cycle reduction of GHG emissions of 80% or more. Our R&D effort is intended to make next-generation technology cost competitive by 2012. Including the FY2009 Budget, the Administration has dedicated nearly $1 billion for research, development, and demonstration of cellulosic biofuels technology. EISA mandates that 58% of the Renewable Fuel Standard be next generation and advanced biofuels. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/index.html We are collaborating with international partners on biofuels sustainability issues. The United States actively participates in sustainability discussions in the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), International Biofuels Forum (IBF), and many other forums. The USG co-chairs GBEP’s work to develop a common methodological framework to quantify biofuel GHG emissions. In the IBF we are highlighting sustainability concerns and solutions. We participate in GBEP’s efforts to develop ways to achieve sustainable bioenergy and are beginning to discuss science-based sustainability benchmarks with international stakeholders. http://www.globalbioenergy.org/ The USDA supports research to develop second generation fuel technologies and feedstock production management. Cellulosic ethanol promises to reduce pressure on food crop production while increasing the energy and carbon efficiency of ethanol. USDA programs are developing technologies to convert cellulose to ethanol, to precisely manage second generation feedstock production at the farm and regional levels, and to increase feedstock productivity while lowering inputs. http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?NP_CODE=307 http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?np_code=216&docid=16490 The United States is working to increase the Federal government’s purchase and use of biobased products. The use of bio-based materials promotes economic development by creating new jobs in rural communities and providing new markets for farm commodities. Energy conservation practices contribute to energy efficiency and fuel savings. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has programs that help farmers and ranchers cut input costs, maintain production, protect soil and water resources, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and save money by using energy conservation practices and tools described on this website. Grants and guaranteed loans provide financial incentives for farmers to adopt energy efficient farm practices. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/energy/ http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp Web-based energy efficiency tools are available that allow farmers to estimate energy and cost savings that result from switching to alternative practices for tilling, nitrogen application, and irrigation pumping. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Methane to Markets Partnership focuses on methane recovery and utilization from livestock waste management in concentrated and commercialized operations. Through multilateral cooperation, the initiative promotes cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. With today’s technology, a wide range of opportunities exist internationally to abate livestock waste methane emissions at zero or negative economic cost. Plus, farms can achieve other environmental benefits related to improved livestock waste management. http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets http://www.methanetomarkets.org/ag/index.htm http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/accompreport.htm The Forest Service is developing science and technology to sustainably produce, manage, harvest, and convert forest biomass from wood to biofuels. http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov. The National Forest Products Laboratory is providing many breakthrough technologies for bio-based products through the efficient, sustainable use of wood resources. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us II.3.2. Pesticide Safety and Alternatives – USDA Integrated Pest Management Centers work in partnership with researchers and educators in the land-grant university system and the private sector to develop and implement new ways to address complex pest management issues. USDA provides funding to support extension IPM implementation and four regional IPM centers, which contribute to the development of safe and effective IPM systems that increase farm profitability, reduce environmental and human health risks, and protect natural resources. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/pest/in_focus/ipm_if_regional.html USAID has initiated a Global Development Alliance with CropLife International to promote the safe use of pesticides in an integrated pest management context. Under this agreement, CropLife is making its well-developed and highly successful training programs available to USAID projects worldwide. This program trains users in the safe and responsible use of pesticides. http://www.croplife.org/ The EPA Strategic Agriculture Initiative is designed to provide a reasonable transition from the use of high risk pesticides, such as organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and carcinogenic products, to reduced risk pesticides and pest management practices. The program funds innovative research and demonstration projects by universities or agricultural groups to reduce potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment that may result from pesticide use and to encourage sustainable agricultural production systems. www.epa.gov/pesticides/grants/aginitiative.htm The EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) is a voluntary public-private partnership organized to reduce pesticide risk and increase adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in U.S. agriculture. PESP partners recognize that environmental stewardship is an integral part of pest management, and they commit to working toward innovative practices that reduce risk to human health and the environment. http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/pesp/about.htm The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) funded "train-the-trainer program" on pesticide safety in Central America: In addition to promoting agricultural worker safety and appropriate pesticide application in the United States through regulated certification and training programs, EPA actively supports safe pesticide use in Central America through a train-the-trainer program. A consortium of interested parties, including government ministries, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations collaborate to adapt the program model to the needs of their country. To date, the program has been implemented in Honduras, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Audiences served by this program include pesticide applicators, field workers, pesticide dealers, students, agricultural extension programs, housewives and farmers. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/worker.htm II. 3.3. Sustainable Business Practices in Farming - The goals of sustainable agriculture are to provide a more profitable farm income, to promote environmental stewardship, and to enhance the quality of life for farm families and their communities. USDA promotes sustainable agriculture through national program leadership and funding for research and extension. It offers competitive grants programs and a professional development program, and it collaborates with other federal agencies through the USDA Sustainable Development Council. http://www.usda.gov/oce/sustainable/ USDA aims to incorporate sustainability concepts and principles into the policies, practices, and programs of the Land Grant University System, with the aim that everyone may benefit from sound sustainable development in the United States. These conservation programs help private landowners conserve and enhance their natural resources, including soil, air, water, plants, and animals. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/sustainabledevelopment.cfm The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program works to increase knowledge about, and help farmers and ranchers adopt practices that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good to communities. Small grants are awarded through a competitive process for research, professional development and educational opportunities, and for farmers and ranchers to test innovative ideas and share the results with their neighbors. Projects address crop and livestock production and marketing, stewardship of soil and other natural resources, economics and quality of life. http://www.sare.org/about/ USDA's Green Purchasing Program promotes the purchase of recycled-content products, biobased products, Energy Star and energy-efficient products, and environmentally preferable products and services, in accord with requirements across the Federal government. http://www.usda.gov/energyandenvironment/greenpurchasing/ II.3.4. Agricultural Biodiversity - U.S. agriculture has made considerable strides in moving to sustainable agricultural practices that reduce negative effects on off-farm biodiversity. The National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP) mission is to acquire, characterize, preserve, document, and distribute to scientists, germplasm of all lifeforms important for food and agricultural production including: food processing (e.g. cheese making), alternate energy, and biocontrol agents. http://www.ars-grin.gov/ A number of non-profit and commercial organizations in the United States also contribute to the preservation of agricultural diversity by maintaining collections of heirloom plant varieties and wild plants, and making them available to growers. http://www.halcyon.com/tmend/links.htm http://www.greenpeople.org/seeds.htm The National Plant Germplasm System maintains 484,000 samples of 12,482 plant species (as of December 2007). The collection includes staple food and feed crops, horticultural crops, fruit and nut crops, industrial crops, ornamental crops, and forest tree crops. The collection is continually growing through acquisition of plant germplasm (over 9,000 samples in 2006, 2,000 from non-U.S. sources) through international and domestic exchanges, and supporting international and domestic plant explorations. Samples are distributed free of charge and without restrictions each year to scientists and breeders, with an average over the past five years of 44,000 samples per year going to facilities in 166 countries. http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/ The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign builds awareness about the importance of beneficial insects and encourages the health of resident and migratory pollinating animals in North America. http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?NP_CODE=305 II. 3.5. Food Security - A number of programs address food security and improved nutrition for the poor in the United States. Additionally, efforts internationally use a variety of strategies to reduce food insecurity. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides children and needy families better access to food and a more healthful diet through its food assistance programs and comprehensive nutrition education efforts. FNS administers programs for school meals, disaster relief, seniors, low-income persons, and women, infants and children. FNS provides services to nearly one in five people in the United States. FNS has elevated nutrition and nutrition education to a top priority in all of its programs. In addition to providing access to nutritious food, FNS also works to empower program participants with knowledge of the link between diet and health. http://www.fns |
