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International Research Engagement and Cooperation Partnerships
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Tackling the toughest agricultural challenges together

Agricultural challenges ignore country borders, threatening the environment, food safety, and animal and human health, and in turn can affect the U.S. economy and trade. The scope of many agricultural challenges - including emerging/re-emerging plant and animal diseases, food safety threats, inadequate nutrition, invasive species, changing environmental conditions, water scarcity and flooding, and access to genetic resources and scientific collections - drives ARS researchers toward international research cooperation. ARS collaborates with all levels of government agencies, universities and the private sector at home and abroad to tackle critical agricultural challenges before they reach and/or harm the U.S. This collaboration allows ARS and international scientists to combine their unique knowledge, experience, and resources to develop and transfer solutions to shared agricultural challenges.

The Office of International Research Engagement and Cooperation facilitates bilateral and multinational partnerships. These efforts benefit all partners, expedite research results to the private sector, exchange information and knowledge, stimulate economic development and U.S. trade, preserve the environment, and improve quality of life for all Americans.

Bilateral Partnerships

The Office of International Research Engagement and Cooperation engages, facilitates, and maintains bilateral research agreements between the U.S. and other countries to work on agricultural problems affecting both. Some of ARS's bilateral partners include:

Multilateral Partnerships

Multilateral partnerships are essential for solving emerging and ongoing challenges affecting production of U.S. and global food, fiber, biofuel, and trade. OIREC facilitates strategic partnerships to economize, share, and expand research capacity for the U.S. and partner countries and organizations. These collaborations provide direct benefits to the U.S. food, fiber, and fuel economies, and foster long-term productive relationships with the international community.