UN agency signs accord to help poor States retain young scientists

Seeking to build scientific capacity in poor countries and stem a brain drain to the developed world, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has entered into an agreement with the International Foundation for Science (IFS) to provide wide technical information in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Coupled with grants from IFS the agreement aims to foster greater technology awareness and enhance domestic research efforts among young scientists within developing countries to prevent their exodus to developed nations.

"The common goal is to strengthen the research capacity of the developing countries," Isabel Alvarez, chief of the Research and Technology Development Service at the Rome-based FAO, said in a news release today.

IFS, an independent non-governmental organization (NGO), identifies promising young scientists in developing countries and supports them in their early careers at home. A grant can make the difference, promoting sustainable development in poor countries.

In 2003, IFS offered 238 grants to young researchers in 35 developing countries on a competitive basis for a maximum of $12,000 each.