FORAGRO Panamá 2005 Apr. 13-15 International Cooperation: USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service

1. FORAGRO Panamá 2005 Apr. 13-15 International Cooperation: USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service in Latin America and the Caribbean David E. Williams USDA - Foreign Agricultural Service www.fas.usda.gov

2. Who are we? • USDA: United States Department of Agriculture • FAS: Foreign Agricultural Service • ICD: International Cooperation and Development program area • RSED: Research and Scientific Exchanges Division

3. USDA Mission:Enhance the quality of life for the American people by supporting production of agriculture • Ensuring food supply • Caring for agricultural, forest, and range lands • Supporting development of rural communities • Providing opportunities for farm and rural residents • Expanding global markets • Working to reduce hunger in the U.S. and around the world

4. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) • Market promotion and development activities • Export of U.S. agricultural commodities • Food Security – international food assistance programs • International technical assistance and training programs

5. International Cooperation and Development (ICD)Research and Scientific Exchanges Division (RSED) • USDA is not a development organization • Promote science-based approaches to both research and trade policies • Promote programs with mutual benefits • Promote closer articulation with foreign counterparts

6. ICD/RSED Programs Program areas: • Sustainable Agriculture & Resource Management • Science and Trade • Food Security Short- and long-term research, training and technical assistance programs Emphasis on collaborative research, science policy, education, technology transfer and, especially, trade capacity building

7. Science and Technology Development Programs • Scientific Cooperation and Research Program (SCRP) • Norman E. Borlaug International Science and Technology Fellowship Program

8. Scientific Cooperation Research Programwww.fas.usda.gov/icd/grants/scrp.htm • Supports long- and short-term international collaborative research and exchange activities • 2004 SCRP Program activities in LAC: Argentina (2) Guatemala (1) Belize (1) Jamaica (1) Brazil (4) Mexico (4) Ecuador (1) Peru (1)

9. Norman E. BorlaugInternational Agricultural Science and TechnologyFellowship Programwww.fas.usda.gov/icd/borlaug/borlaug.htm • Announced March 29, 2004 to honor Nobel laureate Norman E. Borlaug • Short-term (6-8 weeks) training programs • in U.S. or third country • Collaborative program among USDA, USAID, US State Department, and the CGIAR • Mentor visit to Fellow’s home country

10. Local Currency Programs PL-480 “Food for Progress” Ecuador: native agrobiodiversity cons. (INIAP) Peru: national PGR program (INIEA), agrotourism (CIMA) Bolivia: national Arachis PGR program (PROINPA) Guyana: national pgr program (NARI)

11. Regional Food Security Workshops and Small Grants Programs • Central America– INCAP • Regional Technical and Policy Meeting in Guatemala City (Dec. 3-5, 2002) • Small Grants Program (2004-2005) • Caribbean– CFNI • Regional Technical and Policy Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica (Nov. 19-21, 2003) • Small Grants Program (2005)

12. Farmer Biotech Outreach Farmer-to-Farmer Biotech Workshop held at Zamorano Univ, Honduras, Aug. 16-19, 2004 In response to: • USDA’s Latin America Science & Technology Conf. • APEC High Level Policy Dialog • To share experiences on applications of GM crops, policies, consumer acceptance, problems • Increase farmers’ involvement in technical and regulatory processes • 46 participants from 17 LAC countries

13. PROCINORTE • USDA hosts 2004 meeting in Washington, DC • Susan Owens, Director of USDA/FAS Research and Scientific Exchanges Division is the US representative • Active participation in 4 Thematic Task Forces • Library and Information Resources • NORGEN: Genetic Resources Network • Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits • Plant and Animal Health

14. CATIE: New Initiatives • Central America Borlaug Fellows Program 10 Fellows from 7 countries in 2005, projected 2006 • Henry A. Wallace Inter-American Conf. Series on “Water, Agriculture and Food Security in Meso- America,” at CATIE, Costa Rica (May 2-5, 2004) • TEACH – international agricultural literacy • Targeted collaborations and research projects

15. Fome Cero / Zero Hunger in Brazil • Launched in 2003 by President Lula da Silva • USDA-USAID providing technical assistance: • Assessment team visited Brazil in Mar. ‘03 • Hosted a group of Brazilian officials in Dec.’04 to observe USDA food assistance programs • Follow-up activity planned for June 2005

16. Future Prospects • Science & Technology (incl. Biotech) to promote food security and alleviate hunger worldwide • Trade Capacity Building • Cochran Program - >1500 fellowships in LAC • PL-480 local currency programs • FAS Field Offices located throughout the region: www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/fasfield/ovs_directory_result.asp

17. Gracias!