INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION, 1959-79 435 



NUTRITION 



Following up some of the pioneering work by the Thornton 

 subcommittee on agricultural research and world food needs, the sub- 

 committee in 1977 and 1978 held several hearings and produced useful 

 oversight reports on nutrition research and surveillance, as well as the 

 recommended dietary allowance standards. Although most of this 

 work was aimed at domestic nutrition needs in this country, the 

 findings and recommendations were also directed at research priorities 

 and accomplishments on the international level. The General Account- 

 ing Office also issued a report supporting the conclusions of the 

 DISPAC Subcommittee, leading to an administration decision to de- 

 velop a comprehensive nutrition status monitoring system. 



In September 1977, the subcommittee published a study prepared 

 by Leo A. Orleans, China specialist at the Library of Congress, en- 

 titled "The Role of Science and Technology in China's Population' 

 Food Balance." 



In a letter to Dr. George K. Davis of Gainesville, Fla. on April 4, 



1979, Fuqua observed: 



Nutrition research is the subject of attention in several committees of the House, 

 including my own Science and Technology Committee. In our Subcommittee on 

 Science, Research and Technology, we have reviewed this area, and we are right 

 now making plans for additional hearings this year. I am hopeful that by putting 

 the spotlight on this area we can make more people aware of the need for a 

 strengthening of the research efforts in nutrition. 



"APPROPRIATE" TECHNOLOGY 



On February 27, 1978, Scheuer wrote to Secretary of State Cyrus 

 Vance: 



Along with others in the Congress, I have been pleased by the positive steps 

 taken by the Administration and the State Department in elevating the roles of 

 science and technology in foreign policy matters. 



Scheuer then penned a long postscript on his letter, including the 

 following: 



Estimates are that the Third World developing nations will need one billion 

 additional jobs by the year 2000 to employ the flood of new entrants into the job 

 market expected by then. Thus, while sophisticated capital intensive high tech- 

 nology might be appropriate in selected cases in the developing world, a major 

 emphasis should be on encouraging appropriate, cost effective, labor intensive tech- 

 nology for developing countries, with exceptions where justified by circumstances. 



In July 1978, the subcommittee held a week of hearings on how 

 to improve on the technology being utilized in the developing nations, 

 with emphasis on "appropriate technology" which would meet the 



