on November 22, 2013, promotes collaboration between the United States and Israel. The 2013 Memorandum of Understanding was intended to provide a framework whereby Israeli scientists and engineers could receive funding from the BARD Fund and United States scientists and engineers could receive funding from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture. (7) It would be in the interest of the United States to expand the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding to include cooperation with private entities and to statutorily authorize the BARD Fund to enhance prospects for its long-term funding. (8) In 2014, Congress enacted legislation declaring that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States and authorized the President to promote cooperation with Israel in multiple fields, including agriculture. (9) Joint cooperation can help solve specific challenges, including food safety, food security, food quality, and post-harvest issues, as well as maximize production with limited resources, environmental changes, water scarcity, and water management. 3. Authorization of United States-Israel Expanded-Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, is authorized to establish a program for cooperative research and development in agriculture with the Government of Israel. (b) Existing authority The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish and carry out the program authorized under subsection (a) in a manner consistent with the Secretary’s authority under section 1458 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3291 ). (c) Purpose The purpose of the program authorized under subsection (a) shall be to establish a framework to enhance the collaboration between the United States and Israel in research and development activities relating to agriculture, including between public and private entities. (d) Activities supported Activities that may