[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 192 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 57318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23100]


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AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Board for International Food and Agricultural Development


One Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Meeting; Notice of Meeting

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby 
given of the one hundred and fifty-fifth meeting of the Board for 
International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD). The meeting 
will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on October 14, 2008 at the Des 
Moines Marriott Hotel 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 on a 
New Stage in Global Agricultural Development'' is the theme of BIFAD's 
October's meeting.
    Dr. Robert Easter, Chairman of BIFAD, will preside over the 
proceedings. Dr. Easter is Dean of the College of Agriculture, Consumer 
and Environment Sciences at the University of Illinois, Champaign-
Urbana.
    The morning session will include an overview of the BIFAD's 
Conference of Deans (CoD I) with observations and perspectives directed 
toward the planning of CoD II to be held in mid 2009. The theme for the 
first Conference of Deans was ``Higher Education on a New Stage in 
Global Agricultural Development.'' It was held on April 30, 2008. A 
White Paper with recommendations to USAID was prepared from the output 
of CoD I. These recommendations on the role of universities in 
supporting international development, especially with regard to food 
and agriculture, were presented by the Board to USAID Administrator 
Henrietta H. Fore on September 9, 2008 and they will be reviewed at the 
October 14, 2008 meeting.
    The White Paper discussion will be followed by two presentations 
that will offer strategic and long-term perspectives on international 
agriculture. The first, an agri-business view will be presented by John 
Deere International; and the second, by Robert Thompson of the 
University of Illinois, will discuss an economist's view on mitigating 
the food crises. Capping the morning session, Irv Widders of Michigan 
State University, will moderate a panel of university deans and faculty 
to discuss ideas and ways of ``Forming the University Brain Trust for 
International Agricultural Development'' that can mobilize university 
capacities in collaboration with international agri-businesses and with 
BIFAD's leadership, to advise and assist USAID.
    Following the Board's executive luncheon (closed to the public) the 
afternoon session shifts to technical topics. In keeping with the 
mandate of Title XII, a presentation on broadening opportunities for 
Title XII with USAID will be offered. Also in the afternoon, the FY 
2007 Title XII Report will be presented by George Wilson of the USAID 
EGAT Bureau, Office of Agriculture. Sandra Russo, Chairman of the 
Strategic Partnership for Agricultural Research and Education (SPARE) 
will give updates on SPARE's review of actions on ADS-216 (USAID Higher 
Education Community Partnerships) and the Collaborative Research 
Support Programs (CRPSs) Guidelines. SPARE is BIFAD's analytical sub-
committee. The meeting will adjourn at 2:45 p.m.
    The Board meeting is open to the public. The Board welcomes open 
dialog to promote greater focus on critical issues facing USAID and 
international agriculture. Note on Public Comments: Due to time 
constraints, public comments to the Board will limited to two (2) 
minutes to accommodate as many as possible. The comments must be 
submitted ahead of the meeting and they must be in writing.
    Those wishing to attend the meeting or obtain additional 
information about BIFAD should contact Dr. Ronald S. Senykoff, the 
Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD. Write him in care of the U.S. 
Agency for International Development, Ronald Reagan Building, Office of 
Agriculture, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 2.11-085, Washington DC, 20523-2110 or 
telephone him at (202) 712-0218 or fax (202) 216-3010.

Ronald S. Senykoff,
USAID Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD, Office of Agriculture and 
Food Security, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture & Trade, U.S. 
Agency for International Development.
 [FR Doc. E8-23100 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]
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