An international program, headquartered at the University of California, Davis, that links the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) with U.S. agricultural colleges to improve the research and development capabilities of less-developed countries is gaining new leadership with the appointment of Montague Demment, professor of agronomy and range science, as director of the Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support Program (SR-CRSP). Demment, an ecologist by training, conducts research on nutritional ecology of herbivores. His work has focused on the link between digestive processes, feeding behavior and food quality in a variety of species ranging from baboons and chimpanzees to giraffes and cattle in their native environments. He previously directed the UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture Program and has been involved in international work through his research and his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia. UC Davis is the management entity that leads the nine universities participating in the small ruminant program to develop the capacity of less-developed countries to improve their animal production systems. Funds to support the program come from AID, but are more than doubled by host country contributions. Since its inception in 1979, the program has trained more than 400 U.S. and international graduate students and encouraged production of small ruminants in less-developed nations as a means of economic and nutritional improvement. It involves approximately 35 researchers throughout the United States, with projects active in Bolivia, Indonesia and Kenya. Program leaders also hope to move into South Africa and Central Asia. "What is unique about this program is it brings both the social and biological sciences to bear on the problem of development," said Demment. "Many creative technological solutions fail because they are not suited for the economic or social environment. Our program attempts to understand the social and biological context of our intervention and craft the technology that is appropriate." In Kenya, such an analysis indicated that the most effective animal for households would be a goat that was good for both meat and milk production. The team of U.S. and Kenyan scientists produced a dual-purpose goat and improved forages and disease prevention techniques for the animal. Now the goat demand outstrips the supply, Demment reports. "While the U.S. population is cutting down on animal products, we must realize that people, especially young children, in less-developed countries are not consuming high levels of protein and any increase in their dietary protein levels has a strong impact. Animal protein is critical to the development of intelligence for children in those conditions," Demment explained. The program also has a strong environmental focus. Livestock grazing is the single largest human use of the land, and development of proper management systems that do not degrade the environment helps to maintain biodiversity, stabilizes long-term production and preserves the soil. In Indonesia, a system of intensification of sheep production is saving the rain forest. Here SR-CRSP has developed a system of sheep production that uses the young rubber plantations. This system increases food production without further cutting the Sumatran forest. Of particular importance is the program's impact on famine. Because the small ruminants are usually maintained by households, they are close to the mouths they feed. While many food experts are debating whether famines today are food shortages or distribution problems, this program is improving the food sources that need no distribution. "To the hungry child in Ethiopia, a gallon of milk or a bushel of wheat at home is worth five in Kansas," said Demment. The program also has a major domestic impact, supplying considerable germ plasm for variety development for U.S. producers, which has implications, in particular, for disease resistance. Furthermore, many of the U.S. students trained in the program have developed international connections and expertise that allow U.S. producers to competitively enter new foreign markets. "We must remember that as countries develop and increase their standard of living they begin to buy the things that we in California produce," said Demment. "Development creates California markets. Artichokes, fruits and wine are not fare for less developed countries." He added that the program also addresses important gender issues. Since women are the caretakers of sheep, goats and other ruminants in most cultures, herd improvement and increased profitability are primary methods for improving the lot of women in those countries, according to Demment. "Because of the creative design of the program, the intimate partnerships with host countries and the dedication of university staff, this is one of AID's most efficient and effective programs," he said. Created by a congressional act 15 years ago, the program has received strong support form Congressman Vic Fazio, who has recognized the effectiveness of the program and the importance of both its domestic and international contributions, Demment added.