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Growing international concern about the dimensions and devastating effects of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome led during 1987 to intensification of the worldwide effort to understand, control and, if possible, cure it. The AIDS pandemic is, like a number of other topical key issues of FY 1987, discussed in Chapter 5 of this report.

The year 1987 also saw significant international efforts to address critical conservation issues, including those involving tropical forests, the environmental impacts of projects funded by multilateral development banks, and various other problems of endangered species of flora and fauna. After a decade of negotiations, for example, agreement was finally reached with Canada for the protection of the Porcupine River caribou herd.

A major initiative to protect the ozone layer came to fruition on September 16, 1987, when 23 other countries and the Commission of the European Community joined the U.S. in signing a new protocol to control emissions of ozone-depleting substances. Additional delegations indicated they expected their governments would also sign and ratify the protocol, which provides for a freeze on consumption of chlorofluorocarbons and for subsequent reductions totaling 50 percent of worldwide consumption by 1999.

CHAPTER 2:

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTIVITIES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

This chapter provides an overview of the international S&T activities of U.S. Government agencies. It should be read in conjunction with Appendix II which provides a more comprehensive listing. No fewer than 20 U.S. agencies are engaged in more than 500 cooperative agreements involving 120 other nations and a kaleidoscope of multilateral entities. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation have become important aspects of American science and technology. Readers should be aware that the agreements listed in this report and in the appendices reflect a much larger number of individual research projects that cannot be listed for reasons of space.

Significantly, nearly all international S&T activities are funded out of agency budgets and must compete strenuously for funds in light of agency domestic missions. The fact that so many cooperative projects do receive financial backing is clearly tied to the global nature of research and development.

Federal government agencies enter into and fund international S&T activities for a variety of reasons. Many topics of scientific inquiry, e.g., oceans, weather, seismic studies and ozone, must be undertaken on an international basis. Some research can only be undertaken in certain locations abroad. Other activities, due to their high costs, lend themselves to joint-funding or task-sharing. Most common of all, however, are relatively small projects involving ongoing research in other countries that is of direct interest to American scientists.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

The Secretary of State has primary responsibility for coordination and oversight of major science and technology agreements between the United States and foreign governments. This responsibility is exercised in consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Policy and other government agencies. Secretary Shultz emphasized the important role of science and technology in foreign policy in remarks prepared for the May 6, 1987 meeting of the Advisory Committee on Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. He said:

I have long been impressed by the powerful influence
science and technology exert on our foreign policy.
In today's high technology environment, increasing
numbers of foreign policy decisions are driven by
science and technology.

To implement its responsibilities, the State Department in FY 1987 had nearly 200 personnel at home and abroad involved full-time in S&T-related activities. Efforts to enhance American science, technology, economic growth, foreign policy

and national security ranged from negotiation of the South Pacific Fisheries Treaty to agreement with our Economic Summit partners on a Missile Technology Control Regime to the signing by Secretary Shultz of an agreement with the Soviet Union for cooperation in space science. In response to a Presidential initiative, senior Departmental officials, guided by an interagency group chaired by State, led U.S. negotiators in efforts to conclude an agreement with the European Space Agency, Canada and Japan for international cooperation in the U.S. Space Station. Similiarly, with guidance from the Economic Policy Council and an interagency group chaired by OSTP, a Department official led the negotiations for a new U.S.-Japan S&T Cooperation Agreement.

The Department continued to play a leading role in environmental issues including negotiation of the ozone protocol, protection of endangered species, and transboundary pollution matters that directly affect relations with our nearest neighbors. To respond more effectively to the foreign policy implications of major threats to health, particularly AIDS, the Department's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) established an Office of International Health Policy.

The State Department, in cooperation with the Commerce Department and the National Science Foundation, undertook development of a mechanism for the prompt and efficient dissemination to other agencies, industry and academia of science and technology information developed abroad. This effort to enhance the competitive position of American industry, mandated under Executive Order 12591, is expected to be demonstrated as a pilot project beginning in the first quarter of FY 1988.

To strengthen information gathering on S&T developments abroad, the Executive Order also called on the Department to develop a recruitment policy to encourage scientists and engineers from outside the career Foreign Service to serve in U.S. embassies. Measures underway include enhanced recruitment programs at universities with strong S&T programs, as well as requests to leading government and private sector officials and scientists asking that they bring Foreign Service S&T career opportunities to the attention of qualified personnel. In what may prove to be the most effective long-term measure to assure an adequate number of qualified S&T personnel, the State Department published, in September 1987, regulations establishing a science and technology personnel sub-cone. providing officers with an identifiable career track and improved promotion opportunities, this move is expected to increase significantly the interest of talented officers in the S&T field.

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A Departmental review of S&T officer functions revealed four major areas of responsibility--advising on policy issues, representing U.S. Government (including domestic agency) interests, negotiating with host governments, and reporting on S&T developments. The multifaceted nature of S&T work requires highly capable officers with diversified skills including an ability to place science and technology appropriately in the overall context of bilateral relations. As of September 30, 1987, 37 full-time S&T officers were assigned to Embassies and Missions abroad. Twenty of them held scientific or technical degrees; 15 of the 37 were recruited from other agencies, industry or academia.

Training for S&T officers during the fiscal year included a formal course at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), carefully organized programs for officers on consultations, and an S&T officers conference. The two-week long FSI course, developed with the assistance of the National Science Foundation, provided 25 State Department and domestic agency personnel with a detailed overview of the wide range of issues and interests at the intersection of science, technology and foreign policy as viewed by representatives of industry, academia, and the executive and legislative branches of government.

An intensive three-day conference in September 1987, provided senior S&T officers from two dozen posts with background information and guidance on a broad range of issues including S&T cooperation and reporting, technology transfer, AIDS, an environmental and energy issues. The importance of the conference, and of international science and technology, was indicated by the level of speakers. These included the Deputy Secretaries of State and Energy, the President's Science Advisor, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the President of the National Academy of Sciences. A meeting with the Chairman and members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology provided participants with extremely valuable insights and guidance regarding areas of Congressional interest and concern.

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Previous editions of this report have discussed the 1981 restructuring of the Agency for International Development (A.I.D.) to strengthen its scientific and technical components. These policy and programmatic enhancements resulted in significant new initiatives and achievements.

Agriculture

The centrally funded agriculture program is designed to stimulate self-sustaining economic growth to lessen hunger and increase income among developing country populations. Accomplishments in FY 1987 include the following:

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Discovery of Striga Control. Striga, a parasitic weed which kills millions of acres of African and Asian sorghum and millet annually, is ranked as a leading constraint on food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Biochemistry research under the Sorghum/Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) has determined that tiny root hairs of the sorghum plant secrete an oily substance, "sorgoleone, which triggers the germination of striga seeds in close proximity to the plant. Striga plants attach themselves to sorghum and millet roots and ultimately kill the plants through parasitic action. Knowledge derived from this effort has paved the way for further biotechnology and biochemistry research into effective control of striga and other related weeds.

"Heartwater" Disease Control. "Heartwater" is a disease caused by a rickettsia which infects goats, sheep and cattle. Transmitted by ticks, there is no vaccine against this disease, and diagnosis can be made only by a postmortem brain tissue examination. Using recombinant methods, researchers working on the Small Ruminant CRSP have identified the disease through refined diagnostic testing. This discovery holds promise for the future development of a vaccine.

Grasshopper and Locust Control. The Consortium for International Crop Protection has been instrumental in identifying safe and effective alternatives to the chemicals dieldrin and BHC, which have been used widely in Africa for grasshopper and locust control. Field tests conducted in Mali at the early onset of the current epidemic showed that malathion and carbaryl, both manufactured and registered for nonrestricted use in the U.S., are safe and effective. Ecological testing is being continued and will cover selected agro-ecological zones in East, West and Southern Africa.

Soil Management CRSP.

Research in Peru has demonstrated that highly leached soils may be kept productive by using low cost inputs, such as crop varieties tolerant to acidity, returning crop residue to the soil as organic matter, and rotating leguminous crops to increase nitrogen levels in the soil. Positive results of this research show that over a three-year period seven crops of upland rice and compost were obtained for a total of 13.8 tons of grain per hectare.

Cowpea Meal. A village-scale mill and associated technology to process cowpea meal have been developed and installed in Nigeria. This meal, high in protein, will contribute to improving the nutritional status of Nigerians and of people in other developing countries where cowpeas are a significant dietary component. The new process is time saving and less energy demanding.

Alley Cropping. A. I.D. is financing research by four international agricultural centers working in concert to develop improved systems of sustained crop production for the humid and subhumid tropics. The alley cropping concept is based on the use of fast-growing, woody legume species planted in rows with food crops planted between. The legumes provide nitrogen-rich mulch for the food crops by recycling important plant nutrients. In addition to maintaining and improving soil fertility, alley cropping systems provide fodder for livestock, greatly increasing income generation capacity. In drier areas, alley cropping also helps in reducing wind erosion and sand-blasting of seedlings.

Energy, Forestry and Natural Resources

Developing countries require increasing supplies of natural resources and energy to support expanding economies. The energy program seeks to develop new approaches to energy problems through research and adaptation. The environment and natural resources program assists in achieving broad economic development through conservation of natural resources.

Research and Technology Development. Research and development are being sponsored for innovative power systems using coal, biomass and other indigenous fuels. Researchers have now concluded that turbine technology emerging from aircraft cogeneration industries may be applicable to developing countries and can help alter energy generation economics.

A.I.D. is part of a multi-institutional network which seeks to identify innovative financing resources, and provide policy guidance and technological solutions for power crises in developing countries. The network is comprised of the Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, United Nations, U.S. Trade and Development Program, Electric Power Research Institute, and the Southern California Edison Company.

Forestry Research Network. The Forestry and Fuelwood Research and Development project has completed preliminary studies in Asia and initiated activities in Africa. Institutions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand have established experimental Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) sites to help meet natural resource needs. Participating scientists are provided seeds, herbicides, soil characterization services, germplasma, and database management and modeling assistance. A manual has been developed to assist in standardizing methods for MPTS trials.

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