104 STAT. 3772 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 Grant programs. Colleges and universities. Grant programs. Small businesses. Appropriation authorization. (A) to investigate, through genetic selection, the development of varieties of prickly pear with improved growth, freeze tolerance, and harvest characteristics; (B) to develop techniques to produce and process prickly pear as a food source; and (C) to continue to investigate the nutritional value and health benefits of prickly pears. (4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. —There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995 to carry out this subsection. (f) IMMUNOASSAY RESEARCH.— (1) RESEARCH REQUIRED. —The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish and carry out a program to make grants to colleges and universities for research relating to immunoassay used— (A) to detect agricultural pesticide residues on agricultural commodities for human consumption; and (B) to diagnose animal and plant diseases. (2) PREFERENCE.— In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary may give preference to those colleges and universities that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are conducting research described in this subsection. (g) NICHE MARKET DEVELOPMENT. —The Secretary shall make research and extension grants available for the development of agricultural production and marketing systems that will service niche markets located in nearby metropolitan areas. In awarding such grants, the Secretary shall pay particular attention to areas— (1) with a high concentration of small farm operations; and (2) that experience difficulty in delivering products to market due to geographic isolation. (h) SCRAPIE RESEARCH. — (1) RESEARCH AUTHORIZED. — The Secretary of Agriculture may establish and carry out a program to conduct research on the disease of scrapie in sheep and goats, including research regarding the following: (A) Methods for detecting infection of animals with scrapie before the animals become symptomatic. (B) Methods for treatment, prevention, and cure of scrapie. (C) Methods for controlling the spread of scrapie. (2) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.— In carrying out a research program established under this subsection, the Secretary may make grants to and contract with Federal, State, and local agencies and any other organizations that are experienced in research regarding animal diseases. (3) COORDINATION. — The Secretary shall coordinate the research program established under this subsection with other research programs regarding encephalopathies, in particular research regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle. (i) DEER TICK ECOLOGY AND RELATED RESEARCH.— There are authorized to be appropriated $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995 to be used by the Agricultural Research Service to assist research in the field of population ecology of deer ticks and other insects and pests which transmit Lyme disease. (j) NEW COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS FROM NATURAL PLANT MATE- RIALS. —The Secretary of Agriculture may— (1) conduct fundamental and applied research related to the development of new commercial products derived from natural
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