The benefits accrue to the United States, to Israel and to both countries together. Agriculture Benefits Improving the growth of infected plants and potentially trying to make a bigger corn seed are two examples of joint research projects conducted under the auspices of the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund. BARD was created in 1978 with equal contributions by the United States and Israel. Since its inception, BARD has funded more than 800 projects in 41 states. In 1999, it funded 25rojects at 21 U.S. institutions.
New projects promote increased quantity, and improved quality of agricultural produce.
Although this is a global problem, Israel and Arizona share climatic and soil similarities that make for fruitful scientific collaboration. Michael McClure, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Arizona, is working with Itzchak Spiegel of the Agriculture Research Organization in Israel on a project focusing on what happens when these worms enter a plant. Most nematodes attack the roots, which stunts their growth and prevents the development of a healthy plant. The two scientists have known each other for years and have worked together in the past. By working on the same ideas we can pool our ideas and research.