Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/390

 104 STAT. 3712 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 "(D) private foundations and nonprofit organizations who have expertise in agricultural research, education, and technolo^ transfer; "(E) private agricultural research and technology transfer firms; and "(F) the Land Grant University System. "(2) MANNER OF APPOINTMENT. —The Secretary shall appoint members of the Technology Board in a manner determined to be appropriate by the Secretary. " (3) PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATION. —A majority of the members of the Technology Board appointed under paragraph (1) shall be from the private sector. "(4) TERM.— Members of the Technology Board shall serve for staggered terms of 3 years, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. "(5) CHAIRPERSON.—The Technology Board shall select a chairperson from its membership, who shall serve in that position for a term of 1 year. " (c) TECHNICAL INTERPRETATION AND ASSESSMENTS. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— The Technology Board shall— "(A) provide technical interpretation and translation of current and emerging agricultural and environmental science issues for use by the Joint Council and the Advisory Board in setting priorities and conducting evaluations; and "(B) provide technology assessment of current and emerging public and private agricultural research and technology transfer initiatives, including emerging technologies from private industry and public institutions that would influence agriculture, environment, nutrition, and the broad social, economic, and health consequences on urban and rural communities. "(2) ASSESSMENTS. —The Technology Board may conduct assessments to consider to what extent agricultural research and extension programs foster— "(A) the development of farming systems that most effectively take advantage of natural processes and beneficial biological interactions and other sustainable agriculture techniques; "(B) genetics research that results in crop varieties and livestock that enhance management options, farm productivity, use of inputs, and a diversity of products that can be marketed by the farm operator; "(C) research to develop farming systems appropriate to climatological uncertainty; "(D) research to increase the demsuid for current farm products, and to develop new farm crops and enterprises, that are economically and environmentally advantageous and enhance agricultural diversity; "(E) research to enhance economic and societal wellbeing; "(F) research that develops rural economic development strategies that build on the entrepreneurial skills, self- employment tradition, and the resource base of rural communities and extension programs to disseminate those strategies; "(G) innovative extension and education programs that transfer new technology to the rural community including

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