On March 30 2009, the National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced a nearly $50 million partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support innovative, solutions to critical agricultural challenges in developing countries. Each organization will provide $24 million over five years to support a competitive awards program for science research projects that address drought, pests, disease and other serious problems facing small farmers and their families who rely on their crops for their food and income.

The award program will be called BREAD--Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development--and will support a competitive award program for science research projects that develop innovative approaches and technologies to boost agricultural productivity in developing countries.