First of all, I'd like to thank Patty Judge and other members of the listening panel for providing us an opportunity to share some of the ongoing programs at Iowa State University. We can sure relate to agriculture trade issues.

I would begin with a couple of statements, and then I will share with you some of the ongoing programs which might eventually address some of the trade issues related to global-level issues.

First of all, the world community has a bigger challenge today to feed the growing population, (inaudible) and to meet the global standards on health environment and natural resources. Designing new crops and cropping systems of the future will require genetic improvements, sustainable production technology to raise the yield, improve the quality of grains and plants, add value to agricultural products, and minimize the degradation of natural resources. Meeting long-term future needs of food for the growing population can only be achieved by sustainable agricultural intensification. We have the finest land on the planet, and I believe (inaudible) double the population in the next 50 years, we have got to get more food upon the same limited land which is available on this planet.

This will require the integration of several technologies that are efficient and environmentally responsible. Past agricultural practices have sought to increase food production, sometimes at the expense of sustainability, and we have seen many of the examples around the globe, like mismanagement of the irrigation systems, environmental contamination, soil erosion, monocropping systems, and lack of genetic diversity.

Under the Uruguay Round, special concentrated efforts will be needed to make overseas markets competitive for U.S. producers. Low-cost producers and with excess capacity are likely to benefit through increasing exports. Value added through increased quality of plants, grains, oils, and other by-products will attract special customers of U.S. products. Development of education and training programs to a much higher level of excellence would be needed to support the emerging needs of U.S. and overseas industry to produce high-quality crops and preserve global natural resources. I mean soil, air and water, in its natural state.

I would like to address two issues. I might say a couple of issues through my presentation. One is the food safety, and the issue of water quality.

Those of us who travel overseas, we can well appreciate the quality of the water we have in this country. Water contaminated with pesticides and manure and other contaminants might be used for washing or cleaning or processing fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat products. And it's a good likelihood that some of that water which is used in other countries might contaminate some of the food products. Poor sanitary conditions in food, vegetable and meat processing and packing plants can further provide opportunities for contamination if floors and machines are cleaned with contaminated water in other countries.

Second point I want to make is sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems. The use of input-intensive farming systems in high-productive areas of the world, such as Iowa, have led to degradation of soil and water resources far exceeding the carrying capacity of land resulting in sometimes unsustainable farming practices. Some of these unsustainable practices are causing the pollution of some of the major international water bodies, and recent examples I can cite to you are the pollution of the Black and Aral Sea which are almost polluted up to a level that (inaudible) for any kind of habitable life.

Let me share with you in the next couple of minutes some of the initiatives we are having which are ongoing at Iowa State University in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station Initiative to address these global trade issues.

We have developed one plan we call -- I think USDA has some requirements (inaudible) in the country, and the one plan draft is ready, and we have set five different goals. Goal number one is to develop an agriculture system that is highly competitive in a global economy. The goals would have 16 programs which will include programs on farming, plant sciences, germplasm, animal production systems, quality and safety of foods, agricultural risk management, international economic competitiveness.

Second goal is to have a safe and secure food and fiber system, and this will address some of the issues of reduction of physical, chemical, and biological hazards to foods. And I would like to mention that Iowa State University has taken the lead in developing a food safety consortium with 13 other land institutions to address some of these programs, and also to develop joint research, education, training and outreach programs to address food safety issues, including issues related to domestic and global trade.

Third is to have a healthy and well-nourished population. This will have programs on improving human foods and fiber-related products for social and economic advancement.

And fourth goal is an agricultural system which protects natural resources and the environment. And this component will have programs on sustainability of intensive agricultural systems, water quality management, protection of soil resources, pest and animal waste management, global climatic change.

MR. BLOUIN: Take about 10 seconds and wind it up.

DR. KANWAR: And finally we have a program which is right now going on with the help of the State of Iowa, Plant Sciences Program. This initiative will be a program which will lead us hopefully to better crops, new high-technical industry, and hopefully high-technical jobs in Iowa. Plans are to raise $700 million to have this signed initiative at Iowa State University over the next ten years to make Iowa State University a world leader in crop research.

Again, thank you.