1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it?
Many current agricultural issues, research challenges and opportunities are global in nature or have a significant international element. However, ARS is principally a domestic research entity. It is, often times, desirable to augment ARS research projects/programs through international activities. Accordingly, this CRIS Work Unit (CWU) supports special projects that are administered by the Office of International Research Programs (OIRP). Activities are supported by soft monies; no permanent base funds are allocated.

2.How serious is the problem? Why does it matter?
The need for an international component in numerous ARS research programs is well recognized. Working in the global arena can be extremely complex, requiring facilitation by an office dedicated to international collaborations, such as OIRP. OIRP, in large part by utilizing this CWU project, augments ARS National Programs through international activities.

3.How does it relate to the national Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned?
A wide variety of National Programs are supported via twenty active sibling CRIS projects

4.What was your most significant accomplishment this past year?
This CWU has no base funding. It is utilized to augment ARS National Programs via its sibling CRIS projects. The CWU seeks to accomplish two goals in addition..
1)Facilitate international cooperation and scientific exchange. An example is Labex. ARS and its Brazilian counterpart, Embrapa, conduct joint research under the auspices of Labex. Currently, six Embrapa scientists are located in ARS laboratories and one ARS scientist is located in an Embrapa laboratory. Scientists cooperate on a wide range of research topics from animal genomics to the use of remote sensors for precision agriculture to finding new uses for soybean. .
2)Participate in activities that promote the strategic interest of the U.S. government. An example is the Cooperative Initiatives Program with the Azores. At the request of the Department of Defense (DoD), ARS-OIRP acts as interagency program coordinator for non-DoD provisions of the 1995 United States/Portugal Defense and Cooperation Agreement that grants the U.S. strategic access to Lajes Air Field, Azores. For further information regarding all programs, please see individual sibling CRIS reports

5.Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact?
See individual sibling projects

6.What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years?
2003 - Continue Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, China and Latin America programs. Develop programs for Europe and Canada. 2004 - Expand Mexican component of Latin American program. Expand European and Canadian programs. 2005 - Continue all programs.

7.What technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer other scientist)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption durability of the technology?
See sibling projects.

8.List your most important publications and presentations, and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your review publications which are listed below)
None