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Presently, ARS scientists participate in the developing the ESCOP-CSRS Strategic Plan. 

 This involves their active participation in the debate and documentation at the first stage 

 of development. The ARS Strategic Plan is evaluated in draft form by the SAESs before 

 publication. The National Agricultural Research Committee of the Joint Council is a forum 

 for developing consensus on annual research priorities which are used by the Joint Council 

 in developing its strategic plan and its annual priorities. Regional Councils of the Joint 

 Council, which look at regional priorities, include participation by ARS and SAESs. 

 Recently, ARS, CSRS and the SAESs initiated an engagement to determine how we can 

 more effectively collaborate using existing resources on research dealing with food science 

 and safety. Lead agency responsibilities for joint areas of research are established between 

 ARS and CSRS (plant and animal genome research, i.e.) ARS has a more active 

 engagement with the service agencies of USDA to determine research priorities and to 

 report results than does CSRS. 



The following are actions which would improve the linkage between ARS and CSRS: 



o More effective linkages between ARS and CSRS could be accomplished by an earlier 



involvement of the SAES-CSRS community in the development of the ARS Strategic 

 Plan. 



o There could be established greater expectations for coordination of annual budget 

 requests between CSRS and ARS. This would require strong leadership at the level 

 of the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education and exphcit statements of 

 expectations of the agency heads. 



o There is opportunity to improve the linkage between on-going research programs in 



ARS and the SAES through enhanced communication at the local level. 



o The deliberations of the NARC and Regional Councils should be continued with 

 restoration of funding for the engagement (which was reduced FY 1993). 



o Congress could appropriate funds to programs which would be required to be 

 planned and executed as collaborative efforts. 



Actions to improve the linkage between SAESs and service agencies of the USDA include: 



o CSRS should take a more active role in brokering the relationship between the 



SAESs and the action agencies of both USDA and other federal agencies whose 

 programs impact agriculture. 



o SAES scientists should be used as advisors in developing the goals, objectives and 

 scope of cross cutting issues that involve multiple agencies in USDA. 



