Report of the INTSORMIL review committee

Evaluation covers the period 7/79-12/80 and is based on the findings of an external review committee. Eight Title XII universities are conducting 41 research projects; memoranda of understanding have been signed with two LDC"s and discussions are continuing with six others. Research is being conducted on plant breeding, genetics, physiology, and pathology as well as on nutritional and socioeconomic aspects of sorghum and millet cultivation. While it is too early to judge the scientific quality of the research, certain topics do not seem germane to LDC needs -- sorghum fill period, toxins in resistance screening, mechanisms of sorghum disease resistance, sweet sorghum diseases, insect vectors of viral diseases, and drought screening. On the other hand, all the nutrition and socioeconomic studies appear well-suited to small farmers in the Third World. Recommendations are to: (1) emphasize research more relevant to LDC requirements (e.g., on striga, quela birds, stem borers, long smut, and Sphacelia disease); (2) conduct more projects in LDC"s and encourage greater involvement by LDC universities and scientists, international research institutes (the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in particular), and private industry; (3) test new technologies and plant material in Latin America, because of its geographical proximity and climatic similarity to the United States, before transferral to Asia or Africa; (4) expedite the flow of germplasm to the United States and assure adequate plant storage and maintenance; (5) allow universities to hire all necessary staff, especially scientists willing to work overseas; (6) encourage LDC scientists to participate in strong U.S. graduate training programs; (7) initiate a system to allow for limited funding of added projects; (8) emphasize to Missions the importance of prompt, effective implementation of CRSP projects; (9) allow the project director more freedom of operation and hire a part-time assistant director to share his travel burden; and (10) curtail the planned project review meetings.