Peanut CRSP EEP 
The Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program: 
External Review Panel Report 
1996 - 2001 
Executive Summary
The External Evaluation Panel (EEP) strongly supports a 5-Year extension of the Peanut 
Collaborative Research Support Program (Peanut CRSP) beginning August 1, 2001. This 
recommendation is based on the scientific achievements since August 1996, which are already 
making or have potential of making clear and significant scientific and technological impacts in 
both developing countries or host countries (HC's) and the United States. The scientific advances 
of this latest phase as presented in this EEP report are not isolated events because they are built 
upon the many achievements of Peanut CRSP since its inception in 1982. The impacts are in 
some cases based on research that requires long-term efforts (i.e., developing high yielding, pest 
and drought resistant, new peanut cultivars), which underlie the need and benefits of the long￾term, sustained support of Peanut CRSP. In other cases, highly significant impacts have come to 
fruition based on past work or evolved (such as vitamin A fortified and stabilized peanut butter 
products) during the past four years. 
The EEP believes that Peanut CRSP has great relevance both to the U.S. and HC's. The Peanut 
CRSP plays a relevant role in assisting research, technology transfer and educational programs in 
HC's and brings graduate students and visiting scientists to U.S. university programs. Available 
is the U.S. scientific expertise often lacking, but growing in the HC's. With this U.S. expertise 
comes scientific literature that is not always available to the HC's. Working with the U.S. 
universities boosts the confidence of HC researchers. Visits to the U.S., or international and 
regional workshops are made possible by Peanut CRSP. Experience gained by U.S. scientists 
through HC collaborations provides international insights so important to U.S. research programs 
to improve the efficiency of production and utilization of peanuts in the U.S., as is being done in 
HC's. This is an important function of the CRSPs, and especially Peanut CRSP, which was 
anticipated by those who initially conceptualized these programs and now has come true. 
The Peanut CRSP was implemented in 1982. It is funded through Title XII - Famine Prevention 
and Freedom from Hunger and authorized under the International Development and Food 
Assistance Act of 1975. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
implemented Peanut CRSP through Grant No. LAG-G-00-96-90013-00 to the University of 
Georgia. The funds are competitively awarded as grants to ten U.S. universities including 
Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, University of Connecticut,University of Florida, 
University of Georgia, Purdue University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina 
State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Texas A&M University. 
The Principal Investigators (PI's) at the U.S. universities have developed an impressive 
international collaborative research network of 21 projects with researchers (PI's) at 32 
institutions and universities in 17 HC's as follows: West Africa - Institut National Recherches 
Agricoles (INRAB), Benin; Institut de L'Environnement et des Recherches Agricoles (INERA) 
and University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research 
(CSIR), Crops Research Institute, Food Research Institute, Savanna Research Institute, 
University of Ghana, and University of Science and Technology, Ghana; Institut d'Economie 
Rurale (IER), Mali; Institut National de Recherches Agronomiques du Niger (INRAN), Niger; 
Ecole National d'Economie Appliquee (ENEA) and Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles 
(ISRA), Senegal; Southern Africa - Department of Agriculture, Chitedze Research Station and 
Bunda College, Malawi; Latin America and the Caribbean -Asociacion de Productores de 
Oleaginosas Y Trigo (ANAPO) and Centro de Investigacion Agricola Tropical (CIAT), Bolivia, 
Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Trinidad, Jamaica and 
Belize, Southeastern Consortium for International Development (SECID) for coordination of 
programs with faculty and staff in Quisqueya University and the Center for Agricultural 
Research and Documentation (CRDA), Haiti, and Foundacion Peru, Peru; Eastern Europe -
Canning Research Institute, Higher Agricultural Institute and Institute for Introduction and Plant 
Genetic Resources, Bulgaria; and Southeast Asia - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry 
and Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Food Research Center, Department of 
Agriculture, University of the Philippines, Los Banos, and Visayas State College of Agriculture, 
the Philippines. 
Peanut CRSP played a major role in developing the peanut research program and industry in 
Thailand. Now that Thailand has become an Advanced Developed Country, Peanut CRSP has a 
Regional Program for training in Southeast Asia at Kasetsart University and Khon Kaen 
University. In Latin America, a regional program is in place with Empresa Brazilaria de Pesquisa 
Aropecuaria (EMBRAPA), Brazil's agricultural research corporation, with monies from the 
Common Fund for Commodities of the United Nations Foreign Agricultural Organization 
(UNFAO) for germplasm preservation. 
Strong cooperative programs have evolved through Peanut CRSP with international and regional 
research centers. They are the Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique 
Pour le Developpement - Department des Cultures Annuelles (CIRAD-CA), France, and 
Conference des Responsables Africans et Francais de le Recherche Agronomique (CORAF), 
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and International 
Institute for Tropical Agriculture (ITTA), Africa. 
In the U.S., important liaisons are maintained with a number of private and non-government 
industrial support agencies including the American Peanut Council, Peanut Institute, 
Southeastern Consortium for International Development, Peanut Commodity Commissions and 
Grower Groups in States with peanut programs and participating universities and World Vision, 
Incorporated. 
The EEP recognizes the importance of research in providing technology for international 
development. The USAID is commended for its foresight in developing the CRSPs and for 
providing long-term support for the Peanut CRSP. The U.S. universities are recognized for the 
research support and benefits given to the U.S. investigators and services provided to 
international development from their investments and participations. The HC's and their 
institutions are acknowledged for the investment of resources in view of anticipated benefits 
from their development. Without these commitments, the success of the Peanut CRSP would be 
limited. 
The EEP review process examined each project to determine the adequacy of and progress on the 
objectives to meet the assigned constraints. This included the approaches to determine their 
appropriateness to meet the objectives. The status of the achievements included potential for 
applicability and impact to the U.S. and HC's, and having regional and/or global relevancy. 
Collaborations or multi-disciplinary involvements were noted. Other factors examined included 
benefits to stakeholders or developing and establishing small and large businesses, increasing 
consumer's interests and advancing human resources (especially female operated businesses) 
development. The evaluation section examined the strengths and weaknesses based on rate of 
progress, potential for success and application-impact on science and technology and included 
adequacy of funds, all levels of management input and administrative support. 
The EEP review provided recommendations at two levels: 1) general recommendations based on 
overall observations, accomplishments, impacts, short-comings, and suggested changes and/or 
continuations; and 2) specific recommendations on individual projects or sections based on a 
common review and ranking system. Based on item 2, the projects were categorized to 
recommend continuation, continuation after specific adjustments or discontinuation and 
replacement. 
General Recommendations and Observations
1.Technical Areas 
It is important to note that Peanut CRSP is a global program focusing on and having impact in 
five high priority constraints. They are: (1) Aflatoxin contamination - Outcome expected is 
improved health, trade and value through decreased or eliminated aflatoxin contamination. The 
approach to solving the problem is through genetic prevention, preharvest and postharvest 
management processes and detoxification of contaminated peanuts and peanut products. 
(2) Production efficiency - Outcome expected is increased farm prosperity through improved 
production efficiency and sustainability. The approach is genetic improvement, better 
management practices and model-guided management, research and policy recommendations. 
(3)Socioeconomic forces - Outcome expected is rapid development through the adoption of 
technologies resulting from more sociologically appropriate research, policy interventions and 
technology transfer. The approach determines the effects of gender input and policy on the 
peanut system and the impact of adopted technologies. 
(4) Postharvest and marketing technologies - Outcome expected is improved health, increased 
prosperity and consumption of peanuts as safer, more nutritious value-added products. The 
approach is to better understand the nutritional benefits of peanuts, expand availability of peanut 
products meeting local preferences and increase income and employment from production of 
value-added products. 
(5) Training, information and program support - Outcome expected is the development and 
adoption of profitable technologies through increased training, technology transfer and scientific 
exchange. The approach is by consolidation and distribution of information, training scientists 
and development of collaborative linkages and scientists' exchange programs. 
We commend the Peanut CRSP for adding the socio-economic constraint in 1996, as a distinct 
technical area. We believe this constraint encompasses the technological concerns necessary to 
enhance the position of peanuts as an already important source of food and income in developing 
countries, as well as provide important science and technology to the U.S. We also believe that 
the socio-economic constraint would be even further met if this technical area were incorporated 
with funds into selective postharvest and marketing projects. The collaborative nature of the 
program gives Peanut CRSP a comparative advantage to other agricultural crops in providing 
scientific and technical information necessary to support the production and use of peanuts, a 
commodity proven to be critical to economic development in many developing countries. 
Although limited financial resources place a strain on Peanut CRSP to support these constraints, 
the EEP recommends that these five areas be maintained but with a strengthening of 
collaborative efforts among projects within and among the technical areas. 
2. Geographic Distribution 
It is noted that two world regions were added to the Peanut CRSP in 1996, Latin America and 
Eastern Europe. We commend the vision that worldwide benefits from research and development 
activities of Peanut CRSP could be expanded to Latin American countries where peanut 
originated, particularly in the identification, evaluation, and use of germplasm. Also, the Peanut 
CRSP accepted the challenge to assist countries in Eastern Europe move into a free-market 
society through collaborative work in Bulgaria. The strengthened program in Africa should 
continue in order to contribute to food security and economic development in this part of the 
world. Population growth in Asia demands a continued presence of the Peanut CRSP. Although 
peanut is a minor commodity in the Caribbean region, food and economic issues justify a 
continued presence of the Peanut CRSP. Since peanuts are grown in most countries in latitudes 
below 40 degrees and are critical to economic and food safety issues, particularly with 
subsistence farmers and small-scale processors of food in many countries, the EEP feels 
comfortable in recommending continuing the present geographic coverage of Peanut CRSP. 
3. Expanded Participation 
The 1996 Peanut CRSP grant expanded U.S. university participation from four to ten, which 
provided access to important resources needed in the overall program. Host Country 
participation was increased from nine to 17, particularly notable were the countries in Southern 
Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. The multi-project/efforts addressing all constraints in 
countries representing regions, such as Western and Southern Africa and Eastern Europe, will 
promote regional technology transfer of achievements. The EEP recommends programs continue 
in countries representing these regions. One special observation regarding the Caribbean region 
is noted here. Because the USAID Mission does not support work in Haiti, and due to existing 
unstable political issues, the EEP recommends termination of the project in this country. 
4. New Management Procedures 
The Peanut CRSP has a new Director, Dr. J. H. Williams, following the retirement of the long￾term Director, Dr. David Cummins. The EEP commends the smooth transition. However, 
concern is expressed about fund constraints preventing the addition of a new Associate Director. 
The Peanut CRSP Management Entity (ME) continues to give excellent leadership in guiding 
and coordinating programs during this period reviewed. Dr. Tim Williams is applauded for his 
managing of Peanut CRSP without a full time Associate. In the past, the Peanut CRSP was 
managed by two managers, a Director and Associate Director. Moreover, Dr. Williams manages 
a greatly increased Peanut CRSP program including 21 projects under five constraints assigned 
to 42 U.S. universities and HC institutes-universities in 19 countries worldwide. This is a large 
management responsibility which has been handled well, a tribute to the dedicated work and 
long hours supported by the computerized data system and website uniquely implemented by Dr. 
Williams. 
The EEP sees the need for an Associate Director with expertise in the sciences and engineering 
of Peanut CRSP to allow more time for the Director to visit with PI's worldwide and give greater 
commitment to resolving issues at U.S. and HC sites. An Associate Director would also assist in 
public relations, i.e., developing information documents of Peanut CRSP's accomplishments and 
their impact and visiting with stakeholders, important action items needed to maintain program 
visibility. The present review process during year 2000 is challenging because of involvements 
with the EEP and in addition, the upcoming review by a USAID coordinated Administrative 
Management Review Team focusing primarily on the administrative management aspects of 
Peanut CRSP. Moreover, support will be needed to properly prepare the Request for Proposal 
(RFP), solicit and conduct the reviews, select, award and initiate the projects for continuation in 
the next five-year 2001-2006 Peanut CRSP. 
At this time, the EEP suggests hiring Dr. David Cummins as an Interim or Consulting Associate 
Director to assist Dr. Williams during this critical transition period. Dr. Cummins could 
implement and coordinate the new RFP process to conclusion and start-up of the approved 
projects. His years of recognition as a major contributor and knowledgeable leader in Peanut 
CRSP makes Dr. Cummins a natural for assuring that public relations continues to maintain 
program visibility among all stakeholders. Other duties can be assigned as his years of expertise 
are needed. 
5. Peanut CRSP Website 
The EEP commends the web site for peanut CRSP: 
http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/pnutcrsp.html
The web site presents everything one would want to know about the Peanut CRSP. The projects, 
research advances, developing technologies, progress reports, workshops, seminars and 
published proceedings, books and journal articles are posted on the web site. The web site shows 
an impressive presentation of Peanut CRSP's productivity. Especially noteworthy is that the ME 
has added approaches for budget tracking-expenditure spending and communicating research 
progress and reports of each project worldwide via the Peanut CRSP computer database within 
the web site. This has given the limited management resource the ability to deal with the 
disproportionate number of worldwide projects and enhance communications with and among 
PI's in the U.S. and HC's. Examining other CRSP web sites show that Peanut CRSP is a leader in 
providing information describing itself and its advances in research work and technologies and 
communicating, including reporting, on the world wide web, a commendable achievement and a 
model for others to follow. 
To enhance use of the new web site technologies developed by Dr. Williams, funds of peanut 
CRSP should be used to purchase computers and appropriate software for HC PI's. This will 
greatly enhance communication by U.S. and HC PI's, and strengthen research reporting, training 
opportunities, meetings, and fiscal accountability worldwide for the ME and Peanut CRSP. 
6. Timeliness of Funding 
There is a seemingly ever-present issue with USAID and the University of Georgia on the 
timeliness of funding for the projects/subgrants to the U.S. and HC institutions. Delays are 
usually due to date of availability of funds to the ME from USAID. The University of Georgia 
administrative office requires a certain amount of time to prepare documents for transfer to the 
participating universities. This also delays funds being available to the overseas counterparts. 
Often this impacts the ability of scientists to proceed with experiments in a timely manner. The 
delays are particularly detrimental to field research where constraints are put on meeting seed 
planting dates, and other seasonally controlled agricultural practices. Some projects and 
institutions may be able to bridge-fund from other resources and minimize the impact to 
progress, while others cannot. This puts the latter institutions at a disadvantage when progress is 
measured against the former institutions. The EEP encourages every effort be made for timely 
availability of funds for Peanut CRSP. 
7. Socioeconomic Studies 
The socioeconomic projects are "free-standing." The EEP feels that Peanut CRSP should look 
for ways to align these projects more closely with the food safety production and utilization 
projects. The result may be development of science and technologies more likely to be oriented 
toward and adopted by end-users and increased ability to measure potential or real impacts. It is 
noted that three projects (UGA04U, the Philippines; UGA11U, Bulgaria and UFL13P, Africa), 
have taken the initiative with present funds to support the need of socioeconomic capabilities 
with multi-disciplinary teams which performed well and serve as models for more closely 
aligned collaborative programs. These projects should be given an opportunity to expand the 
socioeconomic components with increased funding for socioeconomic components. 
8. Aflatoxin and Food Safety Studies 
In the food safety area there are two projects with goals to model the risks of Aspergilli fungal 
invasion and aflatoxin contamination. Another project seeks to model insect damage risks, while 
another links these issues to production. The EEP recommends that ways be found to formally 
link these projects to increase ability for success and their impact potential. 
Aflatoxin is detrimental to health in many developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. 
The EEP is aware of the potential that clay additives have when added to feed and/or food to 
lessen the negative health effects through technology developed earlier by Peanut CRSP 
researchers in Senegal. This is an example of past research developments coming to fruition as 
Peanut CRSP continues. The Peanut CRSP should actively explore ways to test and extend this 
technology to African food systems, as well as other world regions. The Public Health Agencies, 
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research - Ghana, and IARC - France, are devoted to 
cancer research. Collaborations of Peanut CRSP scientists with researchers from these public 
health institutions could lead to new nutritionally-based technologies on clay additives to absorb 
aflatoxins and reduce cancer in populations. 
The Peanut CRSP should increase efforts to foster awareness of the nutritional value of and the 
food safety (aflatoxins) and allergy problems of peanuts. The EEP commends PI's of the Purdue 
University Project (PUR10U) for their research progress and dissemination of results on the 
nutritional value of peanuts and peanut products particularly the health benefits without weight 
gain and improved cardiovascular risk status. 
9. Production Efficiency 
Research studies of projects in the Production Efficiency constraint have evolved from doing 
mainly classical breeding work to molecular biology (biotechnology) and modeling for risk 
assessment and management strategies. A number of these projects overlap in their objectives 
and approaches, particularly in the areas of modeling for risk assessment and management 
strategies. More projects would benefit from using these techniques to gain base data and to 
assist in technology transfer. To better use these technologies, greater inter-project collaborations 
is necessary. The EEP strongly recommends that more formal contacts be facilitated, e.g., 
meetings of PI's working in these areas at the annual American Peanut Research and Education 
Society meetings. In addition, there is potential for greater regional cooperation, particularly in 
administrative coordination where regional teams, e.g., in West and Central Africa, Southern and 
Eastern Africa, Southeast Asia, etc., and PI's could coordinate efforts in conjunction with the 
ME. 
10. International Publications 
The Peanut CRSP should strengthen continued publicizing international research and program 
developments through publications, (e.g., International Arachis Newsletter), technology transfer 
brochures, cooperative workshops and meetings, proceedings, and its web site, etc. 
11. International Collaborations 
The EEP commends the Peanut CRSP for maintaining a productive international coopereative 
relationship (Project UGA40) since the beginning of the program. This project actively links the 
global peanut research and development programs. Many training and information dissemination 
workshops, laboratory and field training of scientists and technicians, publications, and scientific 
exchanges have occurred. This project to assure covering and promoting these activities was a 
positive action. The project should continue and could use more funding from Peanut CRSP and 
alsoICRISAT. 
In managing this project, it is appropriate for the ME or a designee to continue as PI of Project 
UGA40. ICRISAT should also appoint a permanent PI. The EEP recommends that three regional 
PI's would be advantageous due to the regional thrusts of ICRISAT. Further, Dr. Nigam could 
represent the Central office in Hyderabad, India, and continue to coordinate their efforts in the 
International Arachis Newsletter, published jointly with Peanut CRSP. Dr. Waliyar could 
represent the West Africa program from his post in Mali and assist in coordinating the Peanut 
CRSP efforts with regional groups such as CORAF supported by France. Dr. Subramanyam 
could be the Southern Africa coordinator from his Malawi post. This would serve the goals of 
the project. The collaboration could be further enhanced if ICRISAT's PI's had a role in inter￾project coordination within their region, i.e., identification of scientists in the region interested in 
working with Peanut CRSP. 
Considerable effort was made by Peanut CRSP to work with ICRISAT in germplasm collection 
and preservation in Bolivia. This effort was not responded to by ICRISAT. The EEP would hope 
that project follow through would occur on such important work in the future. Also, Peanut 
CRSP often takes the initiative to propose that ICRISAT scientists collaborate on projects; the 
collaboration could be further enhanced if ICRISAT also take the inititive to enroll Peanut CRSP 
scientists in its projects. 
It is noted that a memorandum of understanding between Peanut CRSP and ICRISAT has been 
signed. The agreement that defines fund flow and project management needs is still awaiting 
signature by ICRISAT and should be further encouraged by Peanut CRSP. 
12. Training 
The ME coordinated project (UGA39) on long- and short-term training of HC scientists was 
established based on recommendations by the last USAID coordinated Administrative 
Management Review Team to ensure that the Peanut CRSP provided training support that best 
fits HC needs and priorities. Funds are allotted from annual funding to support training. The PI's 
in coordination with HC counterparts nominate candidates for training slots. Priorities were 
established and approved in the first year of the present grant and funded from second year 
funds. Four students were selected for support; two Ph.D. candidates in genetics/breeding and 
agricultural economics from Senegal, and two Ph.D. candidates in plant pathology/virology from 
Malawi, and a M.S. candidate in agricultural economics from Haiti. Unfortunately, fund 
reduction has allowed only ongoing training be continued with those students already in the 
program. The full potential of this training plan cannot be reached because of the lack of 
financial support. The response of the ME and Board of Directors to the 1997 fund reduction was 
to limit training to efforts underway, which meant that advanced degree training was severely 
eroded. 
The EEP notes that limited advanced degree or long-term training of HC scientists will have 
serious negative impact on the future peanut scientist's pool in the international community. In 
turn, the advancement of peanut production and use will be slowed or in some areas eliminated 
with negative consequences in the food supply for expanding populations in developing 
countries. 
The EEP commends the Peanut CRSP for supporting workshops, publications, and short-term 
training under this project. A review of Annual Reports shows the following programs: Asia 
Regional Workshop with ICRISAT India in aflatoxin detection methodology, Product 
Development Training Workshop at the University of Georgia for participants from Bulgaria, 
Philippines, Belize, Jamaica, and Haiti, an ANAPO-Bolivia scientist trained for four months at 
the University of Florida, an Application in Modeling to Cropping Systems Workshop in West 
Africa in cooperation with IFDC and the University of Florida, and the West Africa Regional 
Peanut workshop in Ghana co-sponsored with ICRISAT and CIRAD-CA (France). An Aflatoxin 
Management Workshop was held in Ghana, and in the Philippines, a workshop focused on 
educating industries on preferences for peanut and peanut products by consumers. 
Selected Achievements-Impacts 
Selected, notable achievements and impacts, are highlighted; other successes can be found in the 
individual project reviews. 
1. The research conducted at Purdue University and the Food Research Institute, Ghana (Project 
PUR10U) has shown that the high energy content of peanut is offset by the high satiety value of 
the commodity. This means that peanut consumers are not at risk for obesity and cardiovascular 
risk from a high caloric intake of peanuts. The research has also contributed to the body of 
knowledge showing that peanut oils are healthy and have positive cardiovascular health benefits. 
This research has received attention in the U.S. where it has been used to promote peanut 
consumption, which has helped reverse a 5-year (18%) decline in consumption. One industry 
representative states that U.S. consumption has increased 13% since this research began, and the 
impact has been estimated by the industry to be worth as much as $500 million annually. In 
developing countries and for USAID's humanitarian response efforts, the information that peanut 
is a very hunger satisfying food, with high protein and high energy content suggests that this 
commodity should be exploited in times of civil crisis and famine since more hunger prevention 
is delivered per payload than from the commonly used emergency rations. 
2. In the Philippines 35% of the children are deficient in Vitamin A. This situation causes 
blindness and decreases child survival. Market research conducted with Peanut CRSP (Project 
UGA04U) support showed that peanut butter is consumed by all sectors of the population, a fact 
that makes it an ideal vehicle for health interventions. 
In collaboration with commercial processors in Manila, the scientists supported by the Peanut 
CRSP (UGA04U) developed a vitamin A-fortified peanut butter. This product has been 
commercialized and now has a 35% market share in the Metro-Manila area and is sold 
nationwide. Commercial competition is encouraging other peanut processors to develop 
competing products. 
The EEP is highly impressed with this work and recommends that USAID consider investing 
additional resources to further the use of this important technology in the Philippines and 
worldwide in areas of vitamin A deficiency, both commercially and in food intervention 
programs. 
3. Liver cancer rates in Southeast Asia are 36 times those observed in the U.S. Aflatoxin and 
hepatis B interact to greatly increase the risk of this cancer in these areas. Researchers in the 
Philippines with support from Peanut CRSP (Project UGA04U) working with a peanut-based 
food industry have developed sorting techniques to control aflatoxin contamination. This has 
allowed companies to exploit the world-wide trade market opportunities for ethnic Filippino 
sauces and expand operations. Production has increased 40% in the year since the technology 
was deployed. Other companies are positioning themselves to adopt this technology, which will 
ensure widespread adoption of the technology. 
4. In Senegal, a cultivar - Fleur 11 - developed by ISRA scientists in Peanut CRSP Project 
(TAM17P) is being adopted by farmers. On farm socio-economic studies by another Peanut 
CRSP project (UCN36S) show that farmers find this cultivar maintains it's 25% yield advantage 
over the established cultivar. Presently, adoption is limited by seed volumes, but the potential 
impact will be an additional $18 million annually to the peanut farmers in Senegal. The release 
of a second and improved cultivar is emminent. 
5. In Malawi, Peanut CRSP Project (UGA28P) which is focused on developing and exploiting 
virus resistance has exploited the testing of lines resistant to the Groundnut Rosette Virus (GRV) 
disease developed by ICRISAT. These lines are now being released and multiplied for 
distribution to farmers, with support from the USAID-Malawi Mission. The potential benefits to 
Malawi farmers are the elimination of rosette epidemics that decimate production every 5-7 
years. This will provide greater food stability, higher mean yields, and encourage farmers to 
produce peanuts since the risks of loss will be decreased. 
Studies of GRV variability across Africa indicate that resistance based on viral coat-protein of 
the GRV assistor virus should be stable and research in Georgia has produced transformants 
using a synthetic gene. 
6. Basic research at Texas A&M University (Project TAM33A) has identified two genes that are 
critical to the production of aflatoxin by the Aspergilli fungi. These genes may allow molecular 
engineering techniques to eliminate or greatly diminish contamination of peanuts when infected 
by the fungus. 
7. Socio-economic research in Senegal (Peanut CRSP project UCN36S) mobilized the Ecole 
Nationale D'Economie d'Applique (ENEA) to focus on economic problems in farm level peanut 
production. The University of Connecticut has been involved with this development over a ten￾year period. The research has determined that the pricing policies, fiscal practices, and market 
structure measures followed by the Government of Senegal are not fully serving the peanut 
sector of the country. Additionally, it has been offered by the researchers that the keys to future 
success will be farm level efficiency, environmental quality, high seed quality, and inputs to 
enhance productivity. The project has encouraged positive interaction between ENEA and ISRA 
(Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute), which has more fully contributed the strengths of 
ENEA to the agricultural sector. 
8. Socio-economic Peanut CRSP project (NCS07S) has established an ongoing impact 
assessment procedure. Assessments have shown that in Jamaica a Peanut CRSP cultivar was 
adopted but use diminished. On the other-hand technologies for production adopted by farmers 
with the cultivar have continued to be used. In the Philippines, Peanut CRSP cultivars are being 
planed more in the major peanut region, and their use is a major effort of the Philippine's 
government agricultural programs. The EEP encourages the Peanut CRSP to continue and 
expand if possible the important work of this project. 
9. When considered from the aspect of resources available, the Peanut CRSP has been very 
successful with its training efforts. Trainees include: 49 for short-term training, 11 Master of 
Science candidates, 8 Ph.D. candidates, 2 other for a total of 70. In this total, 26 were female and 
44 male, a good gender balance. Five workshops/training courses have been support in Ghana, 
ICRISAT-India, Thailand, Georgia-USA, and Mali. Should resources be available, the EEP 
would encourage expanding training. Especially important is training in regions such as Southern 
Africa where disease and other factors are significantly reducing the work force. 
The collaborative nature of the Peanut CRSP by design provides agricultural benefits to U.S. and 
HC producers, handlers, processors and consumers. These collaborations, including intra- and 
inter-project and multi-disciplinary teams need to be greatly increased. The research studies 
undertaken benefit the U.S. and HC's because of the global nature of the constraints addressed. 
Aflatoxin reduction and nutrition research projects expand market value by nationally and 
internationally increasing demand and diminishing adverse perceptions concerning peanuts. 
Experience in low-input production systems researched in HC's help develop lower cost systems 
in the U.S., and vice versa. Research work on the use of genetic options combined with better 
management practices to control pests and diseases of peanut are reducing inputs that currently 
represent, e.g., in the U.S., 50% of the production costs. The postharvest, utilization and 
marketing research work supported by Peanut CRSP increases demand for peanuts and improves 
profits and international trade. These efforts enhance development of small and large businesses, 
especially women-operated ventures; it is important that these latter efforts continue. 
The Peanut CRSP as part of the CRSP concept is extremely imaginative in that it is designed on 
the basis that all participants in the program benefit. This not only has generated support for 
CRSP proposals in the U.S. Congress but is in tune with the sentiments of the population at 
large, including stakeholders and consumers, who by and large are sympathetic to the ideals of 
Third World development. The PI's of the U.S. and HC's are cast in the role of collaborators 
allowing perceptions that all involved are having their scientific horizons broadened. In addition, 
the biological and socioeconomic understandings of all personnel involved are deepened and 
imaginations enhanced by what is observed and the prospects for future visions enhanced. This 
has brought Peanut CRSP to a successful performance level because this style attracts quality 
scientific personnel and skillful managers working together to keep the program on track by 
overcoming unnecessary interferences and gaining adequate support and encouragement. The 
direct funding at the institutional level and constructive review processes has minimized 
misdirection. The existence of an independent EEP to monitor progress has ensured proper 
accountability. The whole Peanut CRSP venture has been extremely successful, a startling 
contrast to the many unsuccessful exercises that have served only to generate despair in those 
who wish to see the developing world grow. 
EEP Members
The EEP was selected and approved in 1997 to conduct project reviews during the 1996-2001 
time frame approved for Peanut CRSP. This includes the latest review, the subject of this report, 
for making recommendations regarding the 2001-1006 extension. The EEP members were 
nominated by the PI's, Technical Committee, Board of Directors and ME. The nominees were 
approved by BIFAD/USAID. Basic criteria used in the selection process included: (1) a 
background in and basic understanding of science; (2) experience in international agricultural 
research and/or development and knowledge of developing country problems; (3) specific 
experience in peanut research; and (4) an understanding of the U.S. land grant research system. 
The EEP consists of: 
Coordinator Dr. John Cherry (expertise food and agricultural sciences), Director, ARS, USDA, 
Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA 
Dr. Geoffrey Hildebrand (expertise production and plant breeding), Seed Co. Limited, Harare, 
Zimbabwe 
Dr. Duncan McDonald (expertise pathology and mycotoxins), retired ICRISAT, Peebles, 
Scotland 
Dr. Handy J. Williamson (expertise socio-economics), Agricultural Economics and Rural 
Sociology Department (formerly Head), University of Tennessee, Knoxville 
Mr. Jeffrey Johnson (expertise post-harvest and the U.S. peanut industry sector), Birdsong 
Peanuts, Suffolk, VA 
Dr. Ron W. Gibbons (consultant to EEP and production/plant breeding), retired ICRISAT, 
Bedford, UK. 
The review was conducted using published annual Peanut CRSP, EEP and related reports, initial 
1996 and ongoing work plans, PI self assessment surveys, site visits, and other pertinent 
available written documentation; on-site review travels to HC and U.S. institutions; and meetings 
of the EEP to examine and consolidate findings, develop recommendations and write the EEP 
report for the Peanut CRSP. The EEP expresses appreciation to the ME for excellent support 
throughout the review 
1. Mandate 
The Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) guidelines and the Peanut CRSP policies 
and procedures require an intensive evaluation of the program by an External Evaluation Panel 
(EEP) every five years. 
The purpose of the EEP is to evaluate the plans, funding and progress of the research program 
and make recommendations thereon. The members shall be reputed scientists in appropriate 
areas of expertise. 
In undertaking an intensive review of the Global Program, site visits to U.S. and host country 
(HC) research sites are made. 
Recommendations from this review become part of the documentation for program extensions, 
which may include: addition, elimination or modification of overall objectives, and component 
projects; and retention, elimination, or addition of new overseas or U.S. sites, or institutions. 
2. Members
1. John P. Cherry
Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 E. Mermaid Ln.,Wyndmoor, PA. 19038
Expertise: Food and Agricultural Science and Technology
Dr. Cherry is Director of the USDA Eastern Regional Research Center since 1984, 
and Associate Director from 1982-84. The program at this Center is supported with 
over $25 million annually and has about 300 employees. The center has seven 
research units whose mission is to develop through basic, applied, and developmental 
research, new knowledge and technology that will ensure an abundance of high 
quality and safe agricultural commodities and products at reasonable prices to meet 
increasing demands and to provide a continued improvement in the standard of living 
of all Americans. The research units are Dairy Products, Engineering Science, Food 
Safety, Hides, Lipids and Wool, Microbial Biochemistry and Biophysics and Core 
Technology, Microbial Food Safety, and Plant Science and Technology. From 1976-
82, Dr. Cherry was Research Leader and Laboratory Chief of the Oilseed and Food 
Laboratory at the USDA Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA. He 
was on the faculty of the Food Science Department at the University of Georgia, 
Georgia Station from 1973-76. He has worked extensively with peanut and cotton 
seed in the areas of biochemistry, food processing, and utilization. He has studied the 
physiochemical properties of proteins, enzymes, pigments, and lecithins; biochemical 
genetics and chemotaxonomy; microbiology and biochemistry of plant host-pathogen 
relationships; genetic and environmental factors affecting seed composition; cell 
membrane biochemistry; and physicochemical principles of food processing, 
functionality and nutrition. He has had particular interest in protein utilization and 
enzymes as indicators of food quality. Dr. Cherry has also been most closely 
involved in international activities through the OICD/PL 480 program, the State 
Department - FAS-ICD project with Japan, Ireland and Eastern European countries, 
and USAID Peanut CRSP. 
2. Ron W. Gibbons - Consultant to EEP 
12 Restormel Close, Putnoe, Bedford, U.K. MK 41 8 PA
Expertise: Peanut Sciences - Production
Dr. Gibbons is recognized as one of the leading groundnut scientists in the world. He 
served as Executive Director of ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Niamey, Niger from May 
1986 until his retirement in 1992. He was responsible for ICRISAT programs in 
Niger, Mali, and Nigeria including multidisciplinary teams working on millet, 
groundnut, sorghum and resource management plus support units. Also responsible 
for scientists of other organizations including IITA, ILCA, IBPGR, ORSTOM, 
IFPRI, University of Hohenheim and University of Wagenigen, working in 
conjunction with ICRISAT at the Sahelian Center. He worked with ICRISAT-India 
from April 1976 to May 1986. He was appointed Principal Plant Breeder and Team 
Leader for the newly-created Groundnut Improvement Program. He developed the 
plan for the long-term research program and recruitment of staff that was approved 
by the ICRISAT Governing Board in 1976. He lead the groundnut breeding program 
and developed the Groundnut Improvement Program into a world-class effort. From 
1963-1976 he served with the Agricultural Research Council of Central Africa 
supported by the United Kingdom and member governments of Zimbabwe, Zambia, 
and Malawi, and was located in Malawi. Later the program transfered to the 
Agricultural Research Council of Malawi. Duties included groundnut breeding and 
administration. From 1955-63 he served in the UK Overseas Civil Service. He was 
botanist/plant breeder, for Northern Nigeria and officer in charge of the groundnut 
substation in Kano. 
3. Geoffrey Hildebrand
P.O. Box CH 142, Chisipite, Harare, Zimbabwe
Expertise: Peanut Production and S.E. Africa
Dr. Hildebrand has extensive experience as a groundnut breeder and in providing 
advisory service to farmers. He has been employed by Seed Co. Limited, Harare, 
Zimbabwe since 1994, with responsibilities in groundnut breeding, providing an 
advisory service to growers, and assisting farmer-seed producers in maintenance of 
quality standards. From 1987-1994 he was Principal Groundnut Breeder, ICRISAT￾Malawi. Achievements include: identification of germplasm with useful traits, 
cooperation with Regional NARS programs to distribute improved germplasm, and 
development of lines resistant to the devastating rosette virus. From 1982-1987, he 
worked on a grower-sponsored groundnut breeding project at the University of 
Zimbabwe and studied for his Ph.D. in agriculture. From 1967-1982 he was research 
officer in the Crop Breeding Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Zimbabwe. His 
breeding program served large-scale irrigated commercial production as well as rain￾fed small-scale and subsistence production, and provided advisory service to large￾and small-scale farmers. 
4. Jeffrey Johnson
Birdsong Peanuts, 612 Madison Ave., Suffolk, VA. 23439
Expertise: Peanut Post-harvest and U.S. Peanut Sector.
Mr. Johnson has served as Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing for 
Birdsong Peanuts since 1991; previously he served as Vice President from 1984 and 
Assistant Vice President from 1979. From 1974 -79, he served in Export Sales and as 
Export Sales Manager. From 1972-74, he was Factory Manager of the All American 
Peanut Company. He traveled and worked extensively in Europe and Asia in export 
sales activities. Additionally, he has done extensive work in the U.S. in 
manufacturing and sale of peanut and peanut products. He founded the Peanut 
Institute in 1996 and served as its first President. The Peanut Institute promotes 
research and development activities to increase awareness of the quality of peanut as 
a food. 
5. Duncan McDonald
Dunslair Glentress, Peebles, Scotland, U.K. EH 45 8 NB
Expertise: Pathology and Mycotoxins.
Dr. McDonald is recognized as a world leader in peanut pathology and factors related 
to aflatoxin contamination. He served with ICRISAT-India from 1978 until his 
retirement in 1994. Field and laboratory research duties were Principal Groundnut 
(Peanut) Pathologist and Leader of the Groundnut Pathology Sub-Program. He 
worked on various aspects of groundnut diseases with particular emphasis on 
identification and utilization of disease resistance. Dr. McDonald cooperated with 
ICRISAT, Developing Country National Programs, and Developed Country 
Scientists worldwide. He became Groundnut Group Leader in a newly constituted 
ICRISAT Legumes Program in 1987, and Legumes Program Leader in 1990. He 
served as Director of a newly organized Crop Protection Division from January 1994 
until his retirement in November 1994. He served as groundnut pathologist and in 
various administrative posts in Nigeria from 1957 to 1978; including Head of the 
Crop Protection Department of Ahmadu Bello University. 
6. Handy J. Williamson
Agri-Economics, University of Tennessee., 325 Morgan Hall, Knoxville, TN. 37996
Expertise: Socio-economics
Dr. Williamson was appointed head of the Agri-Economics Department in 1988. He 
was responsible for leading and managing research programs, resident instruction 
and outreach functions. Following a 1987-88 Sabbatical Leave at University of 
California-Davis, he returned to the University of Tennessee Agri-Economics 
Department as professor. From 1985-88, he served as Deputy Director for Research 
and University Relations, USAID-Washington. In this role, he allocated and provided 
oversight for a $10 million annual budget to support grants with U.S. universities in 
the fields of agriculture, education, public health, medicine, natural resources, and 
development. While employed at Tennessee State University-Nashville from 1977-
85, he held the positions of Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, Director 
of the Cooperative Agricultural Research Program, and Coordinator of International 
Agricultural Development Activities. From 1974-77 he was Associate Director of the 
Center for Rural Development Research and Assistant Professor of Agricultural 
Economics at Tuskegee University-Alabama. Dr. Williamson has been a consultant 
on many projects and review teams in Africa, the Caribbean, the Far East and the 
U.S. Several state, regional, and national committees, boards, and task forces have 
benefitted from his professional/technical contributions. His research and 
publications include economic and rural development studies affecting land use, 
resource management, manpower training, research and extension development, and 
efficiency of small and large farms in diverse geographical settings. 
3. Background
The present phase of the Peanut CRSP has been in place for 4 years, commencing 1 August 
1996, under USAID Grant LAG-G-00-96-90013-00. The program initially underwent a major 
restructuring which was the outcome of a review of the peanut science and technology, 
worldwide needs and opportunities, by an independent panel of experts. 
New Features of the Peanut CRSP.
Program Changes. 
A major revision of the Program occurred in 1995/96. The major changes that were initiated 
were as follows: 
1. A switch in emphasis from Southeast Asia to Africa. Previous phases of the program had 
focused resources into the Philippines and Thailand, with smaller programs in Africa. Reflecting 
the changing needs for research Africa now receives the majority of resources. The first Peanut 
CRSP projects in Latin America and Eastern Europe were initiated. 
2. For the first time in the history of the Peanut CRSP a series of socio-economics projects were 
initiated. This step was recommended by the panel responsible for the redesign of the program in 
1995, and responded to the need to address questions of gender, policy, technology adoption and 
impact assessment. Prior to this change, only selected projects included limited socio-economic 
studies. 
3. The number of U.S. Institutions participating in the Peanut CRSP increased from four to ten. 
This change was encouraged by the need to make the program accessible to a greater number of 
U.S. institutions, and to provide collaboration for expanded HC involvement. 
4. To cater to the increased changes in the number of institutions, the program was reorganized 
from four subprograms housed at participating U.S. universities to 21 projects all coordinated by 
the Management Entity (ME). These projects were established through an open Request For 
Proposals (RFP). This change has added a great deal of demands on the ME, but has made 
performance by the participants clearer, and required principal investigators (PIs) be more 
accountable for their performance. 
Management Entity (ME) Changes. 
The ME also experienced a considerable amount of change during the period under review. The 
most significant changes were: 
1. The long standing Director, Dr. David Cummins, retired from the University of Georgia 
(1998) and was replaced by the Associate Director, Dr. J. H. 'Tim' Williams. Changes in the 
funding base resulted in the program having to operate with a single full time Director, although 
the program was designed on the expectation of a two-person management team, including a 
Director and Associate Director. 
2. The ME designed, initiated and implemented an internet based management system. The 
intention of this network was to increase the efficiency of the ME, and to minimize the reporting 
and administration burden on the participating researchers and their support institutions. 
Funding. 
The program was designed around an initial annual funding expectation of $2.3 million which 
was maintained for the first two years and then reduced to $1.675 million for the third year. 
Funds were increased to $1.75 million for the fourth year. This change in funding has resulted in 
considerable disruption of the program since the resources fell far short of requirements set when 
the program was initiated. This shortfall was particularly difficult to deal with because it 
occurred during the timeframe when the project PI's were initiating their research plans and 
activities. 
4. Review Process
An EEP is an integrated and mandated part of all CRSPs. The external evaluation by the EEP is 
most important to the Peanut CRSP operations to assure objectivity in decision making on 
important and sometimes difficult program and management issues. 
Consistent with criteria in CRSP Guidelines, the Peanut CRSP established an EEP for the 2001 
Review consisting of five eminent scientists recommended by the Peanut CRSP ME to 
USAID/BIFAD, and a sixth one as a consultant to the EEP (listed earlier). 
The present EEP was established in 1996. The panelists have made several less intensive reviews 
and observations based on the Peanut CRSP Annual Reports prior to the 2000 Intensive Review 
including site visits reported in this document. The EEP was charged to investigate the program 
and make recommendations via this document. 
In compliance with USAID and Peanut CRSP needs and expectations, the EEP developed a 
review process that provided two levels of recommendations: 
(1)General recommendations - overall observations, accomplishments, short-comings, and 
suggested future directions. 
(2)Specific recommendations on projects based on a common review and ranking system. 
(3)Based on item 2 above, the projects were categorized in order to recommend for each project 
continuation, substantive adjustments, or discontinuation and replacement. 
In support of this review the EEP members were provided with the annual reports for the five￾year review, and access to the workplans that resulted in the annual reports. In addition to this 
information, members of each project were requested to prepare a self assessment for their 
respective projects, their institutional support, and other factors that may have been significant to 
the conduct of the project. This information was consolidated by the ME and provided to the 
EEP. 
EEP travel to visit selected research sites (dictated by availability of funds) was arranged by the 
ME. In most cases the projects were visited in both the U.S. and HC, but not necessarily by the 
same EEP member. The sites visited were usually by a team of at least two members of the EEP 
but there were a few cases where the visits were undertaken by a single EEP member. Notes and 
observations were consolidated through correspondence, internet exchanges and discussion at an 
EEP meeting held in Griffin, GA (1-4 March 2000). For each project the EEP members and 
locations visited are described in Table 1 . 
Since this review is an important component for supporting the documentation required for a 
five-year extension of the program scheduled to end in August 2001, it will contain general or 
overall evaluations and detailed recommendations on each project and activity. The EEP will 
elude to, or comment on, project management (University of Georgia ME and U.S. participating 
institutions. A USAID coordinated Administrative Management Review Team (AMRT) will 
focus primarily on administrative management aspects of the Peanut CRSP at a later date. 
Table 1. Project evaluations undertaken by EEP members.
UAB56 University of 
Alabama Aflatoxin impacts on immune system.
UGA99 U. Georgia Fund Management Project
UGA01A U. Georgia Extrusion Cooking of Peanut Meal in the Presence of Lysine to 
Deactivate Aflatoxin and Improve Nutritional Quality.
Site visit in HC by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in HC by Handy J. Williamson
Site visit in U.S. and HC by John P. Cherry
UGA04U U. Georgia Development of Peanut Postharvest Handling and Processing 
Technologies for the Food Industry.
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UGA05 U. Georgia
The World Geography of the Peanut: Global Networking 
Approach to Social Equity, Environmental Protection, and 
Technology Exchange.
Report evaluation only by John P. Cherry
NCS07S NC State Adoption/Diffusion Processes, Persistence, and Socioeconomic 
Impacts of New Inputs and Peanut Varieties.
Report evaluation only by Handy J. Williamson
VT09S V Tech Analysis of Response of Peanut Production in French West 
Africa: Policy Implications of Currency Devaluation
Site visit in U.S. and HC by Handy J. Williamson
PUR10U Purdue Effects of Peanut Consumption on Hunger, Ingestive Behavior, 
Energy Expenditiure and Coronary Heart Disease Risk.
Site visit in HC by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in HC by Handy J. Williamson
Telephone Interview by Jeffrey Johnson
Site visit in HC by John P. Cherry
UGA11U U. Georgia Development and Transfer of Peanut Processing Technologies in 
Bulgaria
Site visit in U.S. and HC by John P. Cherry
UFL13P U. Florida Simulation of Peanut Cropping Systems to Improve Production 
Efficiency and Enhance Natural Resource Management
Site visit in U.S. and HC by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in U.S. by Geoffrey Hildebrand
Site visit in HC by Handy J. Williamson
Site visit in U.S. by Ron W. Gibbons - Consultant to EEP 
UFL16P U. Florida Development and Use of Multiple-Pest Resistance to Improve 
Production Efficiency of Peanut.
Site visit in U.S. by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in U.S. by Geoffrey Hildebrand
Site visit in U.S. by Ron W. Gibbons - Consultant to EEP 
TAM17P Texas A&M Breeding Peanut for Better Productivity and Quality.
Site visit in U.S. by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in U.S. by Geoffrey Hildebrand
Site visit in HC by Handy J. Williamson
Site visit in U.S. by Ron W. Gibbons - Consultant to EEP 
NCS19P NC State Improved Production Efficiency Through Standardized, 
Integrated, and Enhanced Research and Technology.
Site visit in HC by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in HC by Handy J. Williamson
UGA22A U. Georgia
Systems Research to Assess Risk of Preharvest Aflatoxin 
Contamination and to Develop Technologies to Reduce 
Aflatoxin Contamination of Peanut.
Site visit in U.S. and HC by Duncan McDonald
UGA28P U. Georgia Control Strategies for Peanut Viruses: Transgenic Resistance, 
Natural Resistance, and Virus Variability.
Site visit in HC by Geoffrey Hildebrand
Site visit in HC by Ron W. Gibbons - Consultant to EEP 
AUB30S Auburn Production Efficiency and Market Development of Peanuts and 
Peanut Products for Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.
Site visit in U.S. by Handy J. Williamson
NCA32U NC. A&T Development of Spicy Meat Analogs and Technology Transfer 
of Value-added Products from Peanuts.
Site visit in U.S. by Handy J. Williamson
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UCN36S U. Connecticut Socioeconomic Impacts of Alternative Peanut Production 
Marketing Systems in Senegal.
Site visit in HC by Handy J. Williamson
UGA37 U. Georgia Training for SE Asian Region.
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UGA38 U. Georgia Long and Short Term Training for HC Scientists.
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UGA39 U. Georgia Program Support
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UGA40 U. Georgia International Collaboration.
Site visit in U.S. and HC by Duncan McDonald
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UGA41 U. Georgia Management of the Peanut CRSP.
Site visit in U.S. by John P. Cherry
UGA46P U. Georgia Seed for Disaster Recovery and Development in Groundnut 
Producing Countries.
UWI49F University of 
Wisconsin
Genetic Approaches to Eliminate Aflatoxin Contamination of 
Peanuts.
5. Observations
Technical Program
l The EEP finds that the Peanut CRSP has made excellent progress in most projects. In these 
cases the funds invested have resulted in developments consistent with USAID's overall goals 
and strategic objectives, or will do so in the near future. There have also been significant impacts 
in the U.S. from the Peanut CRSP program, and continued advances can be expected. The 
experiments conducted and the results achieved clearly justify an extension of the program for 
the next 5 years (2001-2006). Many of the objectives established at the beginning of the grant 
period have been achieved with impact. In some cases, however, the challenges of new 
environments, new partnerships, and personnel changes have resulted in individual projects not 
achieving the progress expected and the EEP recommends that these projects be discontinued 
and the topics be rebid through an open competitive Request for Proposals (RFP). 
l The EEP notes that because of the greater worldwide distribution of projects to a larger 
number of universities and research institutions it became more difficult for coordination of PI's 
and work among projects. The ME recognizes that program coordinations are the new challenges 
that the system of more numerous geographically dispersed projects bring to the Peanut CRSP. 
However, resources to promote better cross-project coordination are limited but have been 
TAM50 Texas A&M Sustainable Enterosorbent Strategies for the Protection of African 
Populations from Aflatoxin.
UFL52 U. Florida Development of Sustainable Peanut Production Technologies For 
Amerindian Villages in the Rupununi Region of Guyana
NMX53 NM State Valencia Peanut Breeding For High Yield, Early Maturity, and 
Resistance to Fungal Diseases, and Good Quality
VT54 V Tech Gender Issues in Aflatoxin Incidence and Control in Groundnut 
Production Systems of West Africa
FAM51 Florida A&M 
University
Biochemical and Molecular Responses of Peanut to Drought 
Stress and Their Role in Aflatoxin Contamination
OKS55 Oklahoma State Use of chemoprotection in product development to improve 
safety and production of peanut products in Ghana, West Africa.
UWI49UGA U. Georgia See UWI49
UFL16UGA U. Georgia See UFL16
UFL52UGA U. Georgia See UFL52
partially overcome with the development of a computerized data system and web site 
implemented by the ME. What is achieved at present largely takes advantage of having 
coordination meetings while the PIs attend the annual American Peanut Research and Education 
Society meeting. 
Communications 
l The Peanut CRSP ME is commended for the development of electronic means to 
communicate with the Peanut CRSP participants, and to minimize the reporting and 
administrative burden on both the ME and PI's. The Peanut CRSP is leading the way among the 
CRSPs in the use of the Web-site to report Peanut CRSP information, project planning, 
documenting results, budget development, expenditure reporting, etc. In particular, the EEP 
commends the Director, Dr. J. H. Williams for development of this process. The Peanut CRSP 
should continue to work to get all the overseas sites linked into the Web system and enhance the 
use of the computer program by purchasing the necessary hardware and software for all PI's. 
Budget and Socio-economics
l Socio-economics projects were added to the Peanut CRSP portfolio in 1996. The increase in 
budget from $1.7 million to $2.3 million made this addition possible, but the subsequent return 
to $1.7 million has left the program with a set of activities that could has been sustained with 
great difficulty. Most projects, and in particular training suffered from this changed 
circumstance, and from the resulting decrease in project management resources. 
Timely Funding
l There is a seemingly ever-present issue with USAID and the University of Georgia on the 
timeliness of funding for the projects/subgrants to the U.S. institutions. Given the peanut 
planting seasonal growing calendar any delay impacts projects especially those working on the 
Production Constraint. Delays are usually due to date of funds availability to the University of 
Georgia ME from USAID. Added to the problem is that the University of Georgia requires a 
certain amount of time to prepare documents for transfer to the Subgrant Universities. This also 
delays funds being available to the HC counterparts. Often this greatly impacts the ability of the 
scientists to accomplish the project objectives in a timely manner. The impacts are particularly 
detrimental to field research that is constrained by climatically determined seeding dates, and 
other seasonally controlled activities. Some projects and institutions may be able to bridge-funds 
from other resources and minimize the impact to progress, while others cannot. This puts the 
latter institutions at a disadvantage when progress is measured against the former institutions. 
The EEP encourages that USAID, University of Georgia, Peanut CRSP and the funded 
institutions make every effort to ensure timely availability of monies for the program. 
2. Achievements and Impacts.
The achievements of the Peanut CRSP over the past four years have been substantial. The EEP 
notes that the Peanut CRSP continues to make good scientific achievements, which either 
already do or shortly will, result in the clear and significant impacts in both the U.S. and HC's. 
Among the many accomplishments and impacts the EEP wants to draw attention to those listed 
below: 
Technical.
1.
The research conducted at Purdue University (Project PUR10U) and the Food Research 
Institute in Ghana, has shown that the high energy content of peanuts is offset by the high 
satiety value of the commodity. This means that consumers are not at higher risk for obesity 
and cardiovascular risk from a high caloric intake of peanuts. The research has also 
contributed to the body of knowledge showing that peanut oils are healthy and have positive 
cardio-vascular health benefits. 
This research has received attention in the U.S. where it has been used to promote peanut 
consumption, which has helped reverse a 5-year (18%) decline in consumption. One 
industry representative states that U.S. consumption of peanut has increased 13% since this 
research began and the impact has been estimated to be worth as much as $500 million 
annually. In developing countries and for USAID's humanitarian response efforts, the 
information that peanut is a very hunger satisfying food, with high protein, high energy 
suggests that this crop should be exploited more in times of civil crisis and famine since 
more hunger prevention is delivered per payload than from the commonly used emergency 
rations. 
2.
Research on germplasm of Bolivian origin (Project UFL16P) in Florida, Georgia and 
Bolivia has resulted in the identification of new sources of resistance to the Tomato Spotted 
Wilt Virus (TSWV) disease which has become one of the most limiting diseases in the U.S. 
These lines also have multiple resistance to foliar diseases and other prevalent diseases in 
the U.S. as well as having high yield potential. A breeding program to exploit this 
opportunity has been initiated and advanced lines are now available. 
In Bolivia the research has shown that productivity is limited more by management and 
labor availability than by genetic potential. Labor saving technologies for harvest have been 
proposed and are being developed. Extension documents to promote improved management 
have been prepared and production is starting to increase. 
3.
In Malawi, the Peanut CRSP (Project UGA28P) is focused on developing and exploiting 
virus resistance has supported the testing of lines resisting to the Groundnut Rosette Virus 
(GRV) disease developed by ICRISAT. These lines are now being released and are being 
multiplied for distribution to farmers, with support from the USAID Malawi mission. The 
potential benefits to Malawi farmers are the elimination of rosette epidemics that decimate 
production every 5-7 years. This will provide greater food stability, higher mean yields and 
encourage more farmers to produce peanuts since the risks of loss will be decreased. 
Studies of GRV variability across Africa indicate that resistance based on viral coat-protein 
of the GRV assistor virus should be stable and research in Georgia has produced 
transformants using a synthetic gene. 
4.
In Senegal a cultivar (Fleur 11) developed by ISRA scientists (Project TAM17P) is being 
adopted by farmers. On farm socioeconomic studies by another Peanut CRSP project 
(UCN36S) shows that farmers find this line maintains it's 25% yield advantage over the 
established variety. Presently, adoption is limited by seed volumes, but the potential impact 
will be an additional $18 million annually to the peanut farmers in Senegal. 
The release of a second improved variety is imminent. 
5.
In the Philippines 35% of children are deficient in vitamin A. This situation causes 
blindness and decreases child survival. Market research conducted with Peanut CRSP 
support (Project UGA04U) has shown that peanut butter is consumed by all sectors of the 
population, a fact that makes it an ideal vehicle for micro-nutrient health interventions. 
Working with commercial peanut processors, the scientists supported by the Peanut CRSP 
(UGA04U) developed a vitamin A-fortified peanut butter. This product has been 
commercialized and now has a 35% market share in the Metro Manila area and is sold 
nation wide. Commercial competition is encouraging other peanut processors to develop 
competing products. 
6.
Liver cancer rates in Southeast Asia are 36 times those observed in the U.S. Aflatoxin and 
hepatitis B interact to greatly increase the risk of this cancer in these areas. Researchers in 
the Philippines on Peanut CRSP (Project UGA04U) working with a peanut-based food 
industry have developed sorting techniques to control aflatoxin contamination. This has 
allowed companies to exploit the world wide market opportunities for ethnic Filipino sauces 
and expand food processing operations. Production has increased 40% in the year since the 
technology was deployed, and other companies are positioning themselves to adopt this 
technology. 
The impact of widespread adoption of this technology will be less aflatoxin-contaminated 
peanut foods in the Philippines, and therefore a healthier population. Commercial 
competition will ensure widespread adoption of the technology. 
7.
Consumer market research in Bulgaria has shown that a strong market of peanuts and peanut 
products can be developed. The Peanut CRSP (Project UGA11U) has helped establish a 
food processing pilot plant in Bulgaria to allow local industries to scale up their operations, 
by providing training to technicians making them familiar with the major peanut processing 
technologies. 
8.
Scientists in the U.S. on Peanut CRSP (Project UGA04U), have transferred the technology 
of a peanut snack product that is successful in the Philippines to the U.S. market. A North 
Carolina peanut company is test marketing the snack product. 
9.
Peanut CRSP supported research (Project NCS19P) contributes to the pest advisory system 
that is currently the basis for integrated pest management recommendations for peanut 
farmers in North Carolina. This system maximizes farm profitability and minimizes 
environmental damage through the elimination of unnecessary pesticide applications. 
10.
Basic research at Texas A&M University (Project TAM33A) supported by the Peanut CRSP 
has identified two genes that are critical to the production of aflatoxin by Aspergilli fungi. 
These genes may allow the use of molecular engineering techniques to eliminate or greatly 
diminish aflatoxin contamination of peanuts when infected by the fungus. 
11.
A centralized collection of 'grey' literature recording peanut research in national programs 
across the world has been started. This information is being made available through a web 
site accessible database (Project UGA05). The Arachis International Newsletter is now 
published in both electronic and paper mediums (Project UGA40). 
12.
The Peanut CRSP has established an impact assessment and adoption program (Project 
NCS07) as part of the new socio-economics thrust. On the other-hand technologies for 
Publications:
production adopted by the farmers as part of the peanut package have continued to be used. 
In the Philippines, Peanut CRSP cultivars are being planted more in the major peanut 
region, and their use is a major component of the Philippine's Government agricultural 
programs. The EEP encourages the Peanut CRSP to continue and expand the important 
work of this project. 
13.
Socio-economic research in Senegal (UCN36S) mobilized ENEA to focus on economic 
problems in farm level peanut production. The University of Connecticut has been involved 
with this development over a 10-year period. The research has determined that the pricing 
policies, fiscal practices, and market structure measures followed by the government of 
Senegal are not fully serving the peanut sector of the country. Additionally, it has been 
offered by the researchers that the key to future success will be farm level efficiency, 
environmental quality, high seed quality, and input to enhance productivity. The project has 
encouraged positive interaction between ENEA and ISRA, which has more fully contributed 
the strengths of ENEA to the agricultural sector. 
14.
Publication Type 
Power Point 0
Journal 236
Chapter 6
Book 3
Thesis 44
Report 53
Abstract 145
Proceedings 94
Verbal 1
Other 69
Training Manual 1
Monograph 3
Training:
Workshops and Training Courses Supported:
Newsletters 0
Totals 669
Training Type Female Male Total 
Short Term 28 39 67
MSc 52 54 106
PhD 26 40 66
Other 0 5 5
Workshop 0 0 0
Totals 108 141 249