7 U.S.C. § 3291 (AGRICULTURE)
§ 3291. International agricultural research, extension, and teaching
(a) Authority of Secretary
To carry out the policy of this subchapter, the Secretary (in consultation with the Agency for International Development and subject to such coordination with other Federal officials, Departments, and agencies as the President may direct) may—
(1) expand the operational coordination of the Department of Agriculture with institutions and other persons throughout the world performing agricultural and related research, extension, and teaching activities by—
(A) exchanging research materials and results with the institutions or persons;
(B) conducting with the institutions or persons joint or coordinated research, extension, and teaching activities that address problems of significance to food and agriculture in the United States; and
(C) giving priority to those institutions with existing memoranda of understanding, agreements, or other formal ties to United States institutions, or Federal or State agencies;
(2) enter into cooperative arrangements with Departments and Ministries of Agriculture in other nations to conduct research, extension, and teaching activities in support of the development of a viable and sustainable global agricultural system, including efforts to establish a global system for plant genetic resources conservation;
(3) enter into agreements with land-grant colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, the Agency for International Development, and international organizations (such as the United Nations, the World Bank, regional development banks, international agricultural research centers), or other organizations, institutions, or individuals with comparable goals, to promote and support—
(A) the development of a viable and sustainable global agricultural system;
(B) antihunger and improved international nutrition efforts; and
(C) increased quantity, quality, and availability of food;
(4) further develop within the Department highly qualified and experienced science and education experts who specialize in international programs, to be available to carry out the activities described in this section;
(5) work with transitional and more advanced countries in food, agricultural, and related research, development, teaching, and extension (including providing technical assistance, training, and advice to persons from the countries engaged in the activities and the stationing of scientists and other specialists at national and international institutions in the countries);
(6) expand collaboration and coordination with the Agency for International Development regarding food and agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs in developing countries;
(7) assist colleges and universities in strengthening their capabilities for food, agricultural, and related research, extension, and teaching programs relevant to agricultural development activities in other countries through—
(A) the provision of support to State universities, land-grant colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities to do collaborative research with other countries on issues relevant to United States agricultural competitiveness;
(B) the provision of support for cooperative extension education in global agriculture and to promote the application of new technology developed in foreign countries to United States agriculture; and
(C) the provision of support for the internationalization of resident instruction programs of the universities and colleges described in subparagraph (A);
(8) continue, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, a program, coordinated through the International Arid Land Consortium, to enhance collaboration and cooperation between institutions possessing research, extension, and teaching capabilities applied to the development, management, and reclamation of arid lands;
(9) make competitive grants for collaborative projects that—
(A) involve Federal scientists or scientists from land-grant colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, or other colleges and universities with scientists at international agricultural research centers in other nations, including the international agricultural research centers of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research;
(B) focus on developing and using new technologies and programs for—
(i) increasing the production of food and fiber, while safeguarding the environment worldwide and enhancing the global competitiveness of United States agriculture; or
(ii) training scientists;
(C) are mutually beneficial to the United States and other countries; and
(D) encourage private sector involvement and the leveraging of private sector funds;
(10) establish a program, to be coordinated by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Foreign Agricultural Service, to place interns from United States colleges and universities at Foreign Agricultural Service field offices overseas; and
(11) establish a program for the purpose of providing fellowships to United States or foreign students to study at foreign agricultural colleges and universities working under agreements provided for under paragraph (3).
(b) Enhancing linkages
The Secretary shall draw upon and enhance the resources of the land-grant colleges and universities, and other colleges and universities, for developing linkages among these institutions, the Federal Government, international research centers, and counterpart research, extension, and teaching agencies and institutions in both the developed and less-developed countries to serve the purposes of agriculture and the economy of the United States and to make a substantial contribution to the cause of improved food and agricultural progress throughout the world.
(c) Provision of specialized or technical services
The Secretary may provide specialized or technical services, on an advance of funds or a reimbursable basis, to United States colleges and universities and other nongovernmental organizations carrying out international food, agricultural, and related research, extension, and teaching development projects and activities. All funds received in payment for furnishing such specialized or technical services shall be deposited to the credit of the appropriation from which the cost of providing such services has been paid or is to be charged.
(d) Reports
The Secretary shall provide biennial reports to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on efforts of the Federal Government—
(1) to coordinate international agricultural research within the Federal Government; and
(2) to more effectively link the activities of domestic and international agricultural researchers, particularly researchers of the Agricultural Research Service.
(e) Certain binational projects
(1) Full payment of funds
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the full amount of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out cooperative projects under the arrangement entered into between the Secretary and the Government of Israel to support the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (referred to in this subsection as the “BARD Fund”) shall be paid directly to the Fund.
(2) Activities
Activities under the BARD Fund to promote and support agricultural research and development that are of mutual benefit to the United States and Israel shall—
(A) accelerate the demonstration, development, and application of agricultural solutions resulting from or relating to BARD Fund programs, including BARD Fund-sponsored research and innovations in drip irrigation, pesticides, aquaculture, livestock, poultry, disease control, and farm equipment; and
(B) encourage research carried out by governmental, nongovernmental, and private entities, including through collaboration with colleges and universities, research institutions, and the private sector.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1458, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1015; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIV, § 1436, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1313; Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1418, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1550; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1613(a), (b), (d)(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3724, 3726; Pub. L. 102–237, title IV, § 402(11), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1863; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 816, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1167; Pub. L. 105–185, title II, § 227(a)–(d), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 543–545; Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7209(c), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 445; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, §§ 7130, 7511(c)(10)(B), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1227, 1268; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, §§ 7130, 7511(c)(10)(B), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1988, 2029; Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7122, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4792.)
heading: Codification
text: Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
heading: Amendments
text: 2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “Certain” for “Full payment of funds made available for certain” in subsec. heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. heading, substituted “United States-Israel” for “Israel-United States” and inserted “(referred to in this subsection as the ‘BARD Fund’)” after “Development Fund”, and added par. (2).
2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7130(1), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7130(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “enter into agreements with land-grant colleges and universities, the Agency for International Development, and international organizations (such as the United Nations, World Bank, regional development banks, the International Agricultural Research Center), or other organizations, institutions or individuals with comparable goals, to promote and support the development of a viable and sustainable global agricultural system;”.
Subsec. (a)(7)(A). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7130(3), substituted “, land-grant colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities” for “and land-grant colleges and universities”.
Subsec. (a)(9)(A). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7130(4)(A), substituted “, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, or other colleges and universities” for “or other colleges and universities”.
Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7511(c)(10)(B), substituted “National Institute of Food and Agriculture” for “Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service”.
Subsec. (a)(11). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7130(4)(B)–(6), added par. (11).
2002—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 107–171 added par. (10).
1998—Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(1), substituted “research, extension, and teaching” for “research and extension” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(A)(i), substituted “related research, extension, and teaching” for “related research and extension” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(A)(ii), substituted “research, extension, and teaching activities that address” for “research and extension on”.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(B), substituted “teaching” for “education”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(C), substituted “science and education experts” for “scientists and experts”.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(D), inserted “teaching,” after “development,”.
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(B), substituted “teaching” for “education”.
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(E), substituted “research, extension, and teaching programs” for “research and extension that is”.
Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(2)(F), substituted “research, extension, and teaching capabilities” for “research capabilities”.
Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(b), added par. (9).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(a)(3), substituted “counterpart research, extension, and teaching agencies” for “counterpart agencies”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(c), added subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–185, § 227(d), added subsec. (e).
1996—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “continue” for “establish” after “(8)” and struck out “to be” before “coordinated”.
1991—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted a semicolon for period at end.
1990—Pub. L. 101–624, § 1613(d)(1)(A), inserted section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1613(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The Secretary, subject to such coordination with other Federal officials, departments, and agencies as the President may direct, is authorized to—
“(1) expand the operational coordination of the Department of Agriculture with institutions and other persons throughout the world performing agricultural and related research and extension activities by exchanging research materials and results with such institutions or persons and by conducting with such institutions or persons joint or coordinated research and extension on problems of significance to food and agriculture in the United States;
“(2) assist the Agency for International Development with food, agricultural, research and extension programs in developing countries;
“(3) work with developed and transitional countries on food, agricultural and related research and extension, including providing technical assistance, training, and advice to persons from such countries engaged in such activities and the stationing of scientists at national and international institutions in such countries;
“(4) assist United States colleges and universities in strengthening their capabilities for food, agricultural, and related research and extension relevant to agricultural development activities in other countries through the development of highly qualified scientists with specialization in international development; and
“(5) further develop within the Department of Agriculture highly qualified and experienced scientists who specialize in international programs, to be available for the activities described in this section.”
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1613(d)(1)(B), inserted heading.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1613(b), (d)(1)(C), inserted heading and “and other nongovernmental organizations” after “universities”.
1985—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–198 substituted “providing technical assistance, training, and advice to” for “the training of”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 99–198 inserted “through the development of highly qualified scientists with specialization in international development” after “countries”.
1981—Pub. L. 97–98 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted provisions authorizing Secretary to work with transitional countries as well as developed countries on agricultural research and extension and establishing that agricultural research includes food, agricultural, and related research, and added subsecs. (b) and (c).
heading: Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
text: Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.
Amendment by section 7511(c)(10)(B) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 7511(c) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1522 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4301 of this title.
heading: Effective Date
text: Subchapter effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 1901 of Pub. L. 95–113, set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note under section 1307 of this title.