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Appendix 2 Final Document NAS-CSAV Workshop on Agricultural Development and Environmental Research CSAV South Bohemian Biological Center Ceske Budejovice, Czechoslovakia April 7 - 10, 1987 Selected Problems Identified by Participants: ⢠Lack of adequate attention to ecological aspects of intensified use of agricultural land, including spatial organization of pro- duction, urbanization patterns, effective land utilization, and use of mountainous areas ⢠Lack of comprehensive approaches to evaluation of human activ- ities in the landscape ⢠Increased disruption of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, as life-supporting and stabilizing systems in the rural landscape ⢠Degradation of soil through erosion, salinization, sodification, organic matter deterioration, and toxic pollutants ⢠Poor soil management practices due to lack of understanding of soil behavior, poorly developed methods for soil analysis, and inadequate use of biotechnologies ⢠Degradation of surface waters by silt, algae, and toxic pollutants ⢠Inadequate knowledge as to the current extent of contamination of surface water and groundwater and the associated risks to human health ⢠Lack of understanding of the properties of pesticides, of soil, and of agricultural practices that influence pesticide migration to water resources ⢠Increasing exposure to toxic chemicals of human populations, including agricultural workers, and of plant and animal compo- nents of ecosystems in agricultural areas 218
219 including agricultural workers, and of plant and animal compo- nents of ecosystems in agricultural areas ⢠Necessity of improving plant protection by integrated pest man- agement, reduction of amounts of chemicals, and use of natural resources ⢠Lack of tolerance of plants to pathogens and other environmental stresses ⢠Damage caused by parasites in ecosystems created or altered by human activities ⢠Lack of interdisciplinary research to examine the interactions of plant growth, pest development, and the environment ⢠Limitations on traditional methods to improve crop productivity with minimum environmental damage ⢠Possible climatic changes from increased levels of carbon, nitro- gen, and sulphur compounds in the atmosphere ⢠Impact of acid deposition on biological systems ⢠Excessive use in agricultural systems of inputs which are heavy consumers of energy ⢠Need for alternative sources of nitrogen to replace fertilizers ⢠Lack of effective and ecologically safe methods for waste disposal ⢠Need for more rapid application of research results Selected Research Priorities: ⢠Improve understanding of how the natural resource base can be used most effectively in intensifying agricultural activities with minimum adverse ecological effects ⢠Develop and apply systems analysis techniques in assessing and managing natural and altered ecosystems ⢠Refine and adopt methodological approaches to resolving prob- lems related to ecologically optimal uses of landscapes ⢠Study the taxonomy of soil organisms, their role in soil farming, soil microorganisms, and soil fauna ⢠Increase understanding of the biology and microstructure of soils ⢠Investigate nutrient transformations and losses in ecosystems ⢠Investigate commerical husbandry in ecosystems created or mod- ified by human activities, including animal density considerations ⢠Develop and apply exposure assessment techniques, including techniques for estimating human exposure to toxic chemicals through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption and asso- ciated pharmokinetic aspects
220 ⢠Develop and apply ecological risk assessment techniques ⢠Evaluate techniques for minimizing waste generation, including recycling, for applying bioengineered organisms to degrade haz- ardous wastes and for assessing environmental transport and fate of waste products ⢠Determine the effects of acid deposition on biological systems ⢠Investigate interspecies relationships in weed/crop systems under different ecological regimes as a basis for reducing the amounts of herbicides ⢠Encourage basic research on biologically active compounds, their testing and application ⢠Expand research on genetic engineering for increasing agricul- tural productivity and for developing plant species which are resistant to diseases and pests ⢠Expand the base of knowledge necessary for identifying new or- ganisms which can be used in biological control and for improving the properties of existing biological agents ⢠Develop simple and inexpensive programs for monitoring pest abundance ⢠Develop agricultural systems and system components which are less dependent upon high energy inputs, which maintain produc- tivity, and which have enhanced ecological acceptability ⢠Explore plant/microbe relationships, particularly to enhance bi- ological nitrogen fixation ⢠Improve both partners [legume and rhizobium] of nitrogen fixa- tion ⢠Pursue conventional and biotechnological breeding programs for crops with lower fertilizer requirements for acceptable yields ⢠Study the expression of transferred genes related to monocotyle- donous plants ⢠Explore the metabolic mechanisms controlling the rate of pho- tosynthesis ⢠Encourage research on the mechanism for controlling plant re- generation from cells and tissues Selected Themes for Cooperation: ⢠Improved understanding of the concepts and potential of land- scape ecology as a planning and management tool ⢠Methods for investigating ecological systems, structures, and processes, and for evaluating ecological stability of landscapes
221 ⢠Methods and models for ecological optimization of land use and management ⢠Soil biology, including simulation modeling ⢠Mathematical methods for modeling ecosystems ⢠Role of soil organisms in nutrient cycling and in soil microstruc- ture formation connected with organic farming ⢠Relationships among parasites, hosts, and environments, partic- ularly in terms of immunology and resistance ⢠Field studies of pesticide leaching and movement in water re- sources ⢠Laboratory investigations of transformation rate constants and properties for pesticides of particular concern ⢠Monitoring exposure of agricultural workers to pesticides ⢠Effects of chemicals on reproductive systems as a biomonitoring technique ⢠Ecological exposure and risk assessment methodologies ⢠Biodegradation techniques for reducing waste disposal problems ⢠Biological and genetic control of pests ⢠Basic research on biologically active compounds for pest and weed control and their application ⢠Use of genetic engineering in the development of resistance to plant diseases and other pests ⢠Optimization of pest control through development of improved pest management systems ⢠Study of weed control and the maintenance of ecological balance ⢠Use of biotechnology to develop new crop breeding methods ⢠Biotechnological approaches to enhanced agricultural productiv- ity ⢠Development of agricultural systems which are less dependent on high energy inputs ⢠Breeding of legumes for improved nitrogen fixation ⢠Effects of air pollutants such as SO2 on selected biological species, including use of remote sensing Possible Mechanisms for Increased Scientific Cooperation: ⢠Use of interacademy program: - exchanges of individual scientists nominated by CSAV and NAS - bilateral workshops and symposia
222 Cooperative research projects developed by U.S. universities and CSAV institutes Informal scientist-to-scientist cooperation with minimum of red tape: â¢â¢â¢ - exchanges of publications and data - exchange visits - coordination of research projects - joint publications More active involvement of U.S. and Czechoslovak scientists in activities of UN agencies (e.g., WHO, UNESCO, FAO, WMO, UNEP) and of international scientific unions Greater participation of U.S. and Czechoslovak scientists in sci- entific meetings in Czechoslovakia and the United States, respec- tively Exchange of genetic materials Exchange of information on institutional capabilities and re- search projects being planned and in progress in the two coun- tries Visits by American industrial research scientists to Czechoslo- vakia to become acquainted with scientific activities of possible commercial interest to U.S. companies
