Please follow the embedded link to sign the following petition should you so choose -- note that this is a petition from US Scientists -- whether at home or abroad. This petition has received attention from Science magazine and will be reported on soon.
Dear Maize Cooperator, As you may or may not be aware, the CGIAR system (including such institutions as CIMMYT and IRRI, largely responsible for the Green Revolutions in wheat and rice) has been traditionally funded in part by the US Agency for International Development. The USAID has provided a large portion of the operating funds for the CGIAR centers, but this funding is now under threat due to severe cuts in the overall USAID agriculture program, including funds for core CGIAR activities like the training of developing world breeders and biotechnologists, DNA marker assisted crop improvement, discovery research and varietal testing. In addition, no USAID funds for Biotechnology in 2008 were dedicated to the CGIAR centers, an oversight that will bring many successful projects to a halt. Many of us who are striving to make some contributions to developing world agricultural research and development are shocked by these proposed changes, especially in this time when world food production is in such a precarious and volatile state. We are planning to educate the pertinent members of the US Congress and advocate for them to reverse these changes. We ask you to assist us by reading and signing the letter at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cgair_support/. This should not require more than five minutes of your time, and could save the lives and improve the livelihoods of millions of the poorest of the poor over the coming decades. If you do sign, it would be great if you would write your title (e.g., Professor) and institution in the comment box. By the way, there is a contribution request after someone signs this petition, but choosing not to donate does not affect having one's signature recorded. Thank you. Sincerely, Jeff Bennetzen, University of Georgia
