[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53698-53699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25143]


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AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Board for International Food and Agricultural Development; One 
Hundred and Fifty-Eighth Meeting

Notice of Meeting

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby 
given of the one hundred and fifty-eighth meeting of the Board for 
International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD). The meeting 
will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 13, 2009 at the Des 
Moines Marriott Downtown located at 700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. 
The meeting venue is in the Marriott Hotel's Iowa Ballroom, Salons A, 
B, and C located on the second floor. ``Higher Education: A Critical 
Partner in Global Agricultural Development'' will be the central theme 
of BIFAD's initiatives and the October meeting.
    Dr. Robert Easter, Chairman of BIFAD, will preside over the 
proceedings. Dr. Easter is Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for 
Academic Affairs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
    With the passing of Dr. Norman Borlaug on September 12, 2009 it is 
most fitting that Food Security remains the central focus of BIFAD's 
Agenda for its 158th meeting. The Board, working closely in tandem with 
USAID, continues to seek ways to enhance and systematize agricultural 
development oriented university relationships with USAID. Within this 
context is the recognition that only through broad-based partnerships 
and multidisciplinary approaches will the US achieve priority foreign 
assistance goals in a dramatically changed development world. It is in 
the sprit of the Title XII mandates and in view of today's development 
realities, underpinned by complex socio-economic conditions and 
regional conflicts that BIFAD is leading as a ``gateway'' to the 
university community.
    In tribute to one of the world's greatest and most humble plant 
scientists who labored to provide food to those in most need and 
because he saw food as a moral right the BIFAD will open its 158th 
meeting with a special tribute in his memory. Likewise the BIFAD will 
present a special Resolution to honor Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. The 
special tribute will be presented by Allen C. Christensen, past Board 
member and Director of the Benson Agricultural and Food Institute.
    Fred Cholick, Dean and Director, College of Agriculture, Kansas 
State University will lead the morning's first technical session. He 
will present a report on the findings and recommendations coming from 
the BIFAD sponsored Conference of Deans (COD II). The COD II was held 
on June 28 and 29, 2009 in Washington, DC. Incorporating the USAID's 
priority on food security in foreign assistance, ``Building a Global 
Food Security Strategy: The Role of Higher Education in US 
International Development'' served as the COD II's theme. The Board 
will be moving forward to present the COD II results to the USAID 
Administrator.
    At mid-morning the Board will host a dialogue on university and 
USAID partnership. Specifically to be addressed will be the BIFAD/USAID 
Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding which is being 
developed jointly. Presenting for USAID will be Carol Grigsby, Deputy 
Director, Office of Development Partners, USAID. Moderating the 
discussion for the universities will be Jack Payne, Vice President for 
Extension & Outreach, Iowa State University. The objective of the MOU 
is to strengthen university and USAID engagement through joint 
activities centered around, but not limited to, food security.
    Reflecting the growing reality that USAID and its partners must now 
implement development programs in conflict zones the Board has invited 
a special presentation, ``Universities and Possible Role in Counter-
Insurgency: New Thinking on Civil-Military Collaboration.'' This 
presentation, a follow-on to one delivered at the Board's 157th 
meeting, (7/29/09) will focus on Afghanistan and how the Improvised 
Explosive Device (IED) must also be countered via strategic and long-
term development interventions through education and agriculture. Julia 
Erdley, Science Advisor, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat 
Organization (JIEDDO), the Pentagon will be presenting. This 
presentation is scheduled for 11 a.m. right after the morning break.
    Concluding the morning session Kerry Bolognese, Vice-President, 
Association for Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) will provide 
a progress update on the Africa-US Higher Education Initiative. Kerry 
will discuss the status of the partnership plans, the recent conference 
in Ghana of awardees, and how the Initiative will result in building 
the higher education capacity of Sub-Saharan Africa, which will be 
critical to the regions long-term economic growth.
    After an executive luncheon (closed to the public) the Board will 
re-convene. Scheduled as the afternoon's first session is a panel 
discussion, ``Critical Role of Minority Serving Institutions in Today's 
Complex Agricultural Development Environment.'' This discussion is 
being designed to open a new dialogue and begin exploring effective 
partnering with USAID. Bill DeLauder, Board member and President 
Emeritus, Delaware State University will be moderating the panel 
discussion.
    Following the MSI panel Alice Pell, Professor and Provost, College 
of Agriculture, Cornell University, will present an update on how land-
grant universities can contribute to USAID's agricultural development 
strategy in Afghanistan. In recent months BIFAD has been coordinating 
efforts with USAID's Asia Near East Bureau (ANE). Under BIFAD's lead a 
special symposium was held (8/19/09) discuss how land-grant 
universities can contribute to development in Afghanistan, including 
the Administration's intent to emphasize joint programming, and country 
level Afghan-first ownership. Experts from nine universities with 
Afghanistan experience met with representatives from USAID/Washington 
and Pakistan, the Department of State, USDA (CSREES & FAS) and NGOs.
    Concluding the afternoon session the Board will hear an update and 
BIFAD's comments on USAID's FY 2008 Title XII Report to Congress. John 
Becker, Senior Policy Advisor, BIFAD Secretariat, Office of Development 
Partners, USAID will present the report. Also to be discussed will be 
the Office of Development Partners management plans to open up an early 
dialog with BIFAD, the universities and

[[Page 53699]]

Congressional staff as the report is being developed.
    The Board meeting is open to the public. The Board welcomes open 
dialogue to promote greater focus on critical issues facing USAID, the 
role of universities in development, and applications of U.S. 
scientific, technical and institutional capabilities to international 
agriculture. Note on Public Comments: Due to time constraints public 
comments to the Board will be limited to two (2) minutes to accommodate 
as many as possible. It is preferred to have comments submitted to the 
Board in writing. Two periods for public comment will be provided 
during the Board meeting--just before lunch and adjournment.
    Those wishing to attend the meeting or obtain additional 
information about BIFAD should contact Dr. Ronald S. Senykoff, 
Executive Director and Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD. Write him 
in care of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Ronald Reagan 
Building, Office of Development Partners, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW., Room 6.7-153, Washington, DC 20523-2110 or telephone him at (202) 
712-0218 or fax (202) 216-3124.

Ronald S. Senykoff,
Executive Director and USAID Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD, 
Office of Development Partners, U.S. Agency for International 
Development.
[FR Doc. E9-25143 Filed 10-19-09; 8:45 am]
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