(こ)

Nature of Change. Research under the biological nitrogen fixation program will be expanded to learn more about the mechanisms of nitrogen fixation, the nature of the symbiotic relationship, and the metabolic fate of fixed nitrogen in the plant-soil-microbe ecosystem.

Photosynthesis research will include investigations on the regulation of key processes involved in photosynthesis and the application of new recombinant DNA technology to studies on genetics of chloroplast components.

For studies on genetic mechanisms for crop improvement, basic factors related to successful protoplast fusion, gene introduction vehicles, and the genetic basis of resistance to control by chemicals will be investigated.

Research on biological stress on plants will be expanded to include molecular techniques to define the mechanisms of action of bacterial pathogenicity. Metabolic changes occurring in the host plant in response to an interaction with an insect or pathogen will be investigated.

Research on plant metabolic changes resulting from environmental stress will be directed towards the development of high speed physical techniques and highly sensitive biochemical methods in order to determine both structure and function of various membranes. As the systems become better characterized, structure-function relationships will be examined.

An increase of $3,000,000 for Competitive Research Grants for human nutrition research ($3,000,000 available in 1981).

Need for Change. During fiscal years 1978-1980, the first three years
of operation of the Competitive Research Grants program, 671 basic
research proposals in human nutrition were received. The amount
requested to support the research outlined in the 671 research
proposals totaled approximately $122 million. Less than one-sixth of
the proposals could be funded with available funds. During the first
three years of operation, this research has focused primarily on two
areas: improvement and development of analytical techniques and the
study of trace mineral availability and functions. Projects supported
by this program have successfully generated new methods for trace
mineral analysis using non-radioactive heavy isotopes in place of
potentially dangerous radioactive isotopes. The monoclonal antibody
technique is being applied to the detection of different forms of
essential vitamins. Improved procedures have also emerged by
exploration of high performance liquid chromatography. Trace mineral
studies are an area of vital concern and intense current interest.
Studies have demonstrated that trace minerals, especially zinc, are
likely to be in short supply in the diet of the young, the pregnant and
the elderly. Clarification of the cost in health and vitality of these
marginal intakes is urgently needed. An important interaction has been
revealed between corticosteroids and the tissue and subcellular
distribution and exchange of trace minerals. Diabetics have been found
to generate significant shifts of trace minerals between organs raising
speculation into the role of trace elements in the management of this
widespread disease. Basic studies on the influence of dietary fiber
and other substances on trace mineral availability are yielding data

(8)

(9)

It is becoming evident Much new that the rapid and efficient development and operation of the immune systems is highly intertwined with nutrient supply and balance but much more work is necessary to clarify and quantify these relationships. basic research is needed to devise appropriate means of assessing adequacy and to determine the consequences of inappropriate nutrient balance or intake.

vital to wise and effective nutrition counseling.

The Nature of Change. Research will focus on the nutrient requirements of the adolescent and elderly persons. Studies wil be undertaken to develop appropriate techniques for assessing the adequacy of nutrient intake. interaction of nutrition with disease resistance will be explored.

A decrease of $6,500,000 for Animal Health and Disease Research, Sec. 1433, P.L. 95-113 ($6,500,000 available in 1981).

Need for Change. Seventy-eight institutions are currently eligible to
receive payments under formula provisions of this program first funded in
FY 1979. Funds have not been adequate to support a viable program with so
Animal health and disease research will
many eligible institutions.
continue to be conducted by Federal and State research institutions under
other authorizations which provide opportunity for more concentrated
efforts in solving high priority problems of national significance.

Nature of Change. This portion of the animal health and disease research
program is proposed for elimination. Ongoing Federal and State research
programs will sustain the overall animal health and disease research
efforts. Research initiated under this program can be continued by the
States as part of their ongoing programs if they so desire.

An increase of $139,000 for Federal Administration (direct appropriation) ($1,698,000 available in 1981).

(a)

An increase of $121,000 for increased operating costs.

Need for Change:

Increased non-salary operating costs of administering the Cooperative Research programs result from the annual rate of inflation.

Nature of Change. This increase will ameliorate the affect of
inflation and the cost of administering the Cooperative Research
program.

(b) An increase of $18,000 for fiscal year 1981 pay increases.

Proposed Legislation, Proposed for Later Transmittal

An increase of $10,000,000 for a facilities construction program at the 1890 Colleges and Tuskegee Institute ($10,000,000 supplemental funding proposed in 1981).

Need for Change: Section 1445 of P.L. 95-113 authorized continued Federal
Funding of the agricultural research programs carried out by the 16
land-grant colleges of 1890 and Tuskegee Institute. Existing facilities
utilized for research at these institutions need to be renovated and
improved to provide the conditions necessary to conduct top quality
research. In addition, new facilities need to be constructed since either
the existing ones are not adequate for the conduct of highly complex
research, or the existing facilities do not contain adequate space for the
current staff and space needs for their projected research programs.
The institutions have had to encroach on the space of resident instruction
and other campus programs in order to have the staff and programs authorized
under current funding levels.

Nature of Change: The proposed funds would permit a five year grant program at $10 million per year for facility construction at the 17 campuses of the 1890 colleges and Tuskegee Institute. Authorizing legislation is required. This program would provide funding for capital improvements including the major upgrading of existing facilities to meet adequate working conditions, to improve operating efficiency, and to meet new program requirements for food and agricultural research. This program would provide a research program commensurate with the role of these institutions in participating with 1862 institutions as partners to meet the needs of their States. One of the grant selection criteria would be the completeness of the schools' plans to integrate the new facilities into their overall, long-range education plans (e.g., plans for increasing faculty, housing new students, etc.). SEA-CR would monitor the schools comprehensive plans to assure that the schools can fully utilize their new research capacity.

SCIENCE AND EDUCATION ADMNISTRATION

STATUS OF PROGRAM

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH

The funds appropriated for Cooperative Research provide the Federal Government's Support for land-grant agricultural experiment stations, approved schools of forestry, the 1890 land-grant institutions and Tuskegee Institute, Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and other eligible institutions in the various States and in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

The State institutions conduct research and experiments on the problems continuously encountered in the development of a permanent and sustaining agriculture and forestry, and in the improvement of the economic and social welfare of rural and urban families. Because of differences in climate, soil, market outlets, and other local conditions, each State has distinct problems in the production and marketing of crops and livestock. Farmers, foresters, and rural people in the individual States naturally look to their State agricultural experiment stations, universities, and colleges for solution of the State and local problems and request services to help meet changing conditions.

Research programs at State institutions, to be most effective, include participation in regional and national programs. Joint effort by a group of State institutions is the most effective and often the only practical approach to problems of common interest. The stations are acting together as regional groups to provide cooperative coordinated attacks on problems of regional and national interest. In a similar manner, the research programs of the State institutions and the Department of Agriculture are complementary and interdependent.

The Federal formula funds constitute a powerful force in bringing about inter-State cooperation and Federal-State collaboration in the planning and conduct of this overall program of agricultural research. Therefore, the impact of the Federal formula funds cannot be fully evaluated solely on the basis of the amount of funds provided.

Research at the State institutions is organized into a program of projects that is Submitted for approval by Cooperative Research. The program of projects is financed wholly or in part from Federal formula and grant funds. Programs and projects are evaluated periodically with station scientists by administrators and technical staff of Cooperative Research. The evaluation includes consideration of quality and productivity of the program and projects. The continuing process of research evaluation by station scientists and the staff of Cooperative Research results in a dynamic program with approximately 15 to 20 percent of the projects being replaced by new and/or revised projects each year.

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