Means and Strategies: To successfully accomplish the research activities under this goal, ARS will need the level of human, fiscal, physical, and information resources portrayed in the budget estimates for fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

Verification and Validation: ARS currently conducts a series of review processes designed to ensure the relevance and quality of its research work and to maintain the highest possible standards for its scientists. A more detailed description of the evaluation plans can be found in the introduction to this plan.

OBJECTIVE 5.1: Economic opportunity and technology transfer: Conduct "agricultural research ... to promote economic opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for information and technology transfer throughout the United States agriculture industry."

STRATEGY 5.1.1: Rural development opportunities: Develop farming systems tailored to diverse agricultural production enterprises to enhance profits, sustainability, and environmental quality.

During FY 2001,ARS will determine the influences of environmental and cultural conditions on the accumulation of commercially important secondary metabolites in medicinal plants such as goldenseal, which are being grown in woodland understory cropping systems. This knowledge can contribute to the development of production practices that enhance levels of these desirable compounds.

During FY 2002,ARS will determine the effects of low-impact cultural inputs on growth and yield of medicinal plants, such as goldenseal and black cohosh, when grown under organic woodland conditions.

STRATEGY 5.1.2: Information access and delivery: Provide improved access to and dissemination of information to increase public knowledge and awareness of agricultural research, to aid technology transfer, and to speed up sharing of new knowledge.

During FY 2001, ARS will enhance online options from the OTT Home Page to maximize the transfer of ARS technologies to the private sector by adding a searchable database for CRADA opportunities.

During FY 2002, the ARS Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) will make additional efforts to use publications, websites, exhibits at trade shows, and other means to expand the public•s knowledge of how to access ARS technology. A new selection to the OTT website will be created to provide industry with a comprehensive review of past ARS research projects that have been transferred to the private sector to exemplify the technology transfer program.

During FY 2001, ARS will

increase outreach activities with proactive participation at selected industry trade shows and increase activity with venture capital groups to highlight technology transfer opportunities and services.

During FY 2002, the ARS Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) will

further expand efforts to be actively involved in the planning and organization of several events designed for highlighting new ARS technologies and identifying industry partners for commercialization.

submit 80 new patent applications.

participate in 90 new CRADAs.

license 32 new products.

develop 70 new plant varieties for release to industry for further development and marketing.

During FY 2001,ARS will expand efforts to work with NPS to develop policies for transfer of technologies and make such considerations early in the research planning process. New training programs will be developed to inform research leaders and new scientists of technology transfer procedures and concerns.

During FY 2002, ARS will

through a partnership with the National Invasive Species Council, continue development of an Internet website to communicate to the public the National Invasive Species Management Plan and other activities relating to invasive species.

through the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) enhance its partnership with local and State customers who are helping with the site selection, distribution of biological control agents, testing of other management techniques, and technology transfer to land managers.

During FY 2001, ARS will meet the requirements of GPEA.

During FY 2001, ARS will submit its GPEA plan to the USDA in a timely manner.

STRATEGY 5.1.3: Commercialize research results: Develop technology transfer systems that lead to commercialization of research results by industry.

During FY 2001, ARS will provide the International Trade Division of the Commerce Department with ARS-linked companies for incorporation in its international industry promotion program and continue to develop partnerships with States, the Minority Business Technology Transfer Consortium, and Rural Conservation and Development Councils to enhance small businesses in rural communities.

During FY 2002, the ARS Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) will expand efforts to identify groups to enhance the probability of identifying partners for commercialization of ARS technologies. ARS will give particular emphasis to organizations concerned with minority businesses, rural development, and conservation. A new program of targeted marketing of specific technologies will enhance the availability of information to potential partners.