[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17752-17753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8235]



[[Page 17751]]

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Part V





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Request for Proposals: Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food 
Systems, FY 2000; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 4, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; 
Request for Proposals: Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food 
Systems, FY 2000

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

ACTION: Notice; Clarification, Revision and Addition to Request for 
Proposals, and Extension of Date for Submission.

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SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) published a request for proposals document for the 
Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) in the 
Federal Register on March 6, 2000 (65 FR 11838). This document 
clarifies the nature of proposals sought, adds a new program sub-area, 
extends the date for receipt of proposals, and makes certain specific 
revisions to the request for proposals contained in the original 
notice.

DATES: The original notice provided that proposals for the IFAFS must 
be submitted by May 8, 2000. That date is extended to May 22, 2000. All 
other requirements for submittal of proposals remain the same as those 
specified in the notice of March 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The addresses for submission of proposals remain the same as 
those specified in the notice of March 6, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further clarification of the intent of 
this notice, contact Dr. Cynthia Huebner, Assistant Director, IFAFS, 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; STOP 2242; telephone: (202) 401-4114; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 6, 2000, CSREES published a request 
for proposals for the IFAFS (65 FR 11838). CSREES wishes to clarify the 
types of proposals it seeks, revise certain portions of the request for 
proposals, and add a new program area for funding. Revisions to the 
original request for proposals made herein have been incorporated in 
full in the copy of the IFAFS request for proposals available on the 
CSREES website at www.reeusda.gov/IFAFS.

In General

    Programs within IFAFS can bring the agricultural knowledge system 
to bear on issues impacting small- and mid-sized producers and land 
managers, enabling improvements in quality of life and community. Thus, 
applicants are encouraged to address issues impacting small and mid-
sized operations in each IFAFS program area as appropriate. In support 
of the agency's goals to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability 
of U.S. agriculture, consideration also will be given to projects (with 
U.S. institutions as the lead) that incorporate an international 
dimension with demonstrable domestic benefits. Proposals should reflect 
substantial involvement of agricultural producers, nutrition and health 
professionals, individuals and groups concerned with the environment, 
or other stakeholders or their representative organizations, in project 
planning, design, and implementation.
    In the Agricultural Genomics program area (10.0) of the request for 
proposals, emphasis was placed on research focusing on economically 
important species, genes, or traits. CSREES wishes to clarify that it 
will accept proposals related to all agriculturally important species, 
genes, or traits, regardless of their economic importance or value. 
Accordingly, the terms ``economic'' and ``economically'' have been 
stricken from the version of the request for proposals available on the 
CSREES website consistent with this statement as appropriate.

Revisions

    In the notice of request for proposals for the IFAFS published on 
March 6, 2000 (65 FR 11838), make the following revisions.
    On page 11839, in the third column, revise the definitions of 
``Education activity'' and ``Extension activity'' to read as follows:
    (7) Education activity means formal classroom instruction, 
laboratory instruction, and practicum experience in the food and 
agricultural sciences and other related matters such as faculty 
development, student recruitment and services, curriculum development, 
instructional materials and equipment, and innovative teaching 
methodologies.
    (8) Extension activity means an act or process that delivers 
science-based knowledge and informal educational programs to people, 
enabling them to make practical decisions.
    On page 11844, second column, under ``2. Agricultural Biotechnology 
(Program Area 11.0),'' revise the second and third full paragraphs to 
read as follows:
    Successful application of this technology to food and agriculture 
requires a sufficient level of consumer acceptance of biotechnology-
derived products to provide economic incentive to product developers. 
Consumer acceptance is currently affected by doubts about biotechnology 
in food and agriculture. Research and education focused on assessing 
and reducing present and predicted risks associated with agricultural 
biotechnology will aid in alleviating public concerns. For example, 
developing and implementing effective on-farm practices to address 
issues such as pest resistance and adverse non-target species impact 
(e.g. pollen drift concerns) will provide critical information to 
farmers and the general public. Mechanisms for increasing public 
awareness of the benefits, as well as the risks, of biotechnology-
derived products are needed to provide consumers, farmers, regulators, 
and policymakers with the facts they need to make informed decisions 
about production, use, regulation and trade of biotechnology-derived 
foods and products.
    This program area will support research, extension, and education 
that addresses public questions and concerns associated with 
agricultural biotechnology by assessing, reducing, and developing 
monitoring strategies for present and anticipated risks. The program 
will maximize knowledge and understanding of both risks and benefits 
accrued to the public from products derived through biotechnology.
    On page 11844, third column, under ``11.1 Effects Agricultural 
Biotechnology on Human, Animal and Plant Health,'' first full 
paragraph:
    (1) Revise the beginning of the paragraph to read: ``Research, 
extension, and education activities regarding the effects of 
genetically modified (GM) organisms and GM food on human, animal, and 
plant health, include but are not limited to:''; and
    (2) Revise clause (f) to read as follows: ``techniques to minimize 
or eliminate potential negative impacts of GM products on non-target 
species, agricultural systems and the environment;''.
    On page 11845, first column, third full paragraph, second sentence, 
add after ``public interest'': ``, producer,''.
    On page 11848, second column, first full paragraph, strike the 
parenthetical phrase referring to the Food Quality and Protection Act 
in clause (d).

New Program Sub-Area

    CSREES adds a new program sub-area soliciting proposals related to 
Critical and Emerging Pest Management Challenges as follows.
    On page 11847, in the second column:
    (1) Revise the first heading in the column to read: ``5. Natural 
Resource Management, Including Precision Agriculture and Critical and 
Emerging Pest Management Challenges (Program Area 14.0)''; and
    (2) Add before the period at the end of the second full paragraph 
under that

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heading: ``and critical and emerging pest management challenges''.
    On page 11849, second column, add the following new program sub-
area before the heading, ``5. Farm Efficiency and Profitability,'' as 
follows:

14.5  Critical and Emerging Pest Management Challenges

    (For clarification of this program area, contact the Program 
Director, Dennis Kopp, at (202) 401-6437; e-mail: [email protected].)
    Recent, more stringent regulations, such as the Food Quality 
Protection Act (FQPA), new provisions of the Clean Air Act, and new 
pesticide re-registration actions under the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, will contribute to the loss or 
significant restriction of pesticides and pesticide uses. Commodities 
that are heavily consumed by infants and children and commodities that 
are reliant on a few classes of chemicals for pest control are 
particularly vulnerable. Problems related to the loss or restriction of 
current pest management tools are exacerbated by pest resistance, 
consumer demand for safer foods, and lack of effective alternatives. 
New conventional chemistries and biological, biotechnological and 
organic farming techniques offer the promise of new, safe and effective 
alternatives. New technologies, however, are more complex requiring a 
higher degree of management and may require a significant investment in 
user education and training. Therefore, comprehensive science-based 
approaches are needed for the development and implementation of new 
pest management technologies.
    CSREES has or is initiating a number of programs to address the 
impact of FQPA on crops production systems. These programs include, the 
Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP), and the following programs 
in the new integrated Research, Education and Extension Competitive 
Grants Program: Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation (CAR), Risk 
Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP), and Methyl Bromide Transition 
(MBT). IFAFS provides an opportunity to bring together concepts from 
the above mentioned programs by supporting proposals that are more 
comprehensive in nature and have multi-tactical approaches to pest 
management systems.
    Proposals are invited on broad systems that go beyond the scope of 
the Integrated and PMAP pest management programs. Proposals for this 
section should support integrated research, education and extension on 
regional or national systems and approaches that will provide pest 
management strategies for at-risk production systems. In addition, 
proposals should identify and assess ways to reduce actual or potential 
adverse human health, occupational and/or environmental effects. 
Wherever possible, proposals should include multi-state and 
multidisciplinary partnerships with producers, industry, other 
stakeholders groups and the research, education and extension 
community.

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 28th day of March, 2000.
Charles W. Laughlin,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-8235 Filed 3-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P