
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC5924]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                          CHAPTER 88--RESEARCH
 
            SUBCHAPTER VII--MISCELLANEOUS RESEARCH PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 5924. Agricultural Genome Initiative


(a) Goals

    The goals of this section are--
        (1) to expand the knowledge of public and private sector 
    entities and persons concerning genomes for species of importance to 
    the food and agriculture sectors in order to maximize the return on 
    the investment in genomics of agriculturally important species;
        (2) to focus on the species that will yield scientifically 
    important results that will enhance the usefulness of many 
    agriculturally important species;
        (3) to build on genomic research, such as the Human Genome 
    Initiative and the Arabidopsis Genome Project, to understand gene 
    structure and function that is expected to have considerable payoffs 
    in agriculturally important species;
        (4) to develop improved bioinformatics to enhance both sequence 
    or structure determination and analysis of the biological function 
    of genes and gene products;
        (5) to encourage Federal Government participants to maximize the 
    utility of public and private partnerships for agricultural genome 
    research;
        (6) to allow resources developed under this section, including 
    data, software, germplasm, and other biological materials, to be 
    openly accessible to all persons, subject to any confidentiality 
    requirements imposed by law; and
        (7) to encourage international partnerships with each partner 
    country responsible for financing its own strategy for agricultural 
    genome research.

(b) Duties of Secretary

    The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the 
``Secretary'') shall conduct a research initiative (to be known as the 
``Agricultural Genome Initiative'') for the purpose of--
        (1) studying and mapping agriculturally significant genes to 
    achieve sustainable and secure agricultural production;
        (2) ensuring that current gaps in existing agricultural genetics 
    knowledge are filled;
        (3) identifying and developing a functional understanding of 
    genes responsible for economically important traits in 
    agriculturally important species, including emerging plant and 
    animal diseases causing economic hardship;
        (4) ensuring future genetic improvement of agriculturally 
    important species;
        (5) supporting preservation of diverse germplasm;
        (6) ensuring preservation of biodiversity to maintain access to 
    genes that may be of importance in the future; and
        (7) otherwise carrying out this section.

(c) Grants and cooperative agreements

                            (1) Authority

        The Secretary may make grants or enter into cooperative 
    agreements with individuals and organizations in accordance with 
    section 3318 of this title.

                        (2) Competitive basis

        A grant or cooperative agreement under this subsection shall be 
    made or entered into on a competitive basis.

(d) Administration

    Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of subsection (b) of section 450i 
of this title shall apply with respect to the making of a grant or 
cooperative agreement under this section.

(e) Matching of funds

                       (1) General requirement

        If a grant or cooperative agreement under this section provides 
    a particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, the 
    Secretary shall require the recipient to provide funds or in-kind 
    support to match the amount of funds provided by the Secretary under 
    the grant or cooperative agreement.

                             (2) Waiver

        The Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement of 
    paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if the Secretary 
    determines that--
            (A) the results of the project, while of particular benefit 
        to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
        applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
            (B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
        deals with scientifically important research, and the recipient 
        is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.

(f) Consultation with National Academy of Sciences

    The Secretary may use funds made available under this section to 
consult with the National Academy of Sciences regarding the 
administration of the Agricultural Genome Initiative.

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XVI, Sec. 1671, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3769; 
Pub. L. 104-66, title I, Sec. 1011(s), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 710; 
Pub. L. 104-127, title VIII, Sec. 835, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1169; 
Pub. L. 105-185, title II, Sec. 241, June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 547.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Pub. L. 105-185 amended section catchline and text generally, 
substituting present provisions for provisions which in subsec. (a) 
required plant genome mapping program, in subsec. (b) authorized 
competitive grants for research projects, in subsec. (c) described 
research areas for projects, in subsec. (d) set forth deadline for 
submission of plan for awarding grants, in subsec. (e) directed 
coordination of section activities with certain related activities, in 
subsec. (f) required protection of proprietary interests when considered 
to be appropriate, and in subsec. (g) authorized appropriations for 
fiscal years 1996 and 1997 to carry out this section.
    1996--Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-127 inserted ``for fiscal years 1996 
and 1997'' after ``appropriated''.
    1995--Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 104-66 redesignated subsec. (h) as 
(g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which required Secretary to submit 
annual reports to Congress describing operations of grant program for 
plant genome mapping.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 450i of this title.
