Maryland-BARD Program
In November 2003, the University of Maryland Biotechnology
Institute (UMBI) and the US-Israel
Binational Agricultural Research and Development fund (BARD) established
a framework for conducting collaborative aquaculture research between
UMBI and Israeli scientists – the UMBI/BARD Program. Maryland
and Israel each contributed $250,000 to fund the program.
The objective of the program is to promote and competitively
support mission-oriented collaborative aquaculture research and development
activities, conducted jointly by UMBI and Israeli scientists, that will
be of mutual benefit by providing solutions to mutual aquaculture problems
and open new horizon to advancing aquaculture in both Maryland and Israel.
This fund will provide grants of 1-3 years with a maximum
total budget (to all parties) of $75,000 to $100,000/year, to be equally
divided between the UMBI and Israeli scientists. Research will focus
on:
- Search and discovery of novel marine natural products and pharmaceuticals
produced by marine organisms
- Development and improvement of seed production and hatchery technologies
(reproduction and early life stages) in finfish and shellfish of
economic interest to Maryland and Israel.
- Development of high efficiency and environmentally compatible
aquaculture diets.
- Development of environmentally-compatible, recirculated aquaculture
systems for species of economic interest to Israel and Maryland.
- Controlling fish diseases in recirculated, dense aquaculture
systems.
- Development of new products for aquaculture, including ornamental
fish.
Sources: BARD |