ISNAR will work with the developing country agricultural research institutions to develop the home pages and then link them with ISNAR's own Web site. An associated electronic connection via e-mail will enable interested parties to get in touch with the respective institutes. As such, the service will provide the research institutes with greater visibility globally, as well as greater accessibility electronically via e-mail.

ISNAR decided to develop the Web site because of a growing number of requests for information and services from developing countries. ISNAR will also use the Web site to allow many of its latest publications available worldwide to be read, downloaded, and printed.

Another aim is to establish and moderate e-mail discussion forums on topics related to agricultural research. Management of biotechnology research and agricultural research priority setting are the first two active forum topics. National agricultural research institutions throughout the world can apply to take part in the ISNAR Web page project or discussion forums by contacting ISNAR@CGNET.COM. ISNAR's publications catalog and other institutional information can be accessed at http://www.cgiar.org/isnar.

SINGER, the System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources, is an Internet database of over 600,000 samples of crop, forage, and tree germplasm of major importance for food and agriculture. Combining the genetic resources information of 12 of the 16 international agricultural research centers of the CGIAR, it's the largest of its kind in the world. Now SINGER can be accessed on the World Wide Web.

SINGER allows searches from anywhere in the world for information on the identity, origin, characteristics, distribution, and other information pertaining to the genetic resources in these individual Center collections. Because of SINGER, those seeking information don't have to browse through computers in a dozen countries to extract the data. What they explore is a composite database of genetic resources data from the 12 Centers.

SINGER users with Internet access and an ordinary World Wide Web browser can search for germplasm information in the vast database. By picking from lists of options, they can narrow searches; for example, by region or by crop to meet specific needs.

A large range of passport, germplasm transfer, collecting mission, and characterization descriptors are available to search. Data can be viewed in several formats and saved for local use. The information is used by scientists to breed high-yielding, drought-, disease-, and insect-tolerant or resistant food plants. In addition, the plant germplasm described in the database--which is collected, catalogued, and stored in the various Centers--is made available without cost to plant breeders in developing countries.

Significantly, SINGER is designed to allow each Center to retain autonomy and control over its own data. Updates such as additions and changes are made at the Centers and are immediately integrated into the combined database via a private worldwide data communication network.

SINGER is located at CGNET Services International, Menlo Park, California. CGNET provides over 300 international research and development locations in more than 100 countries with e-mail, fax, and Internet connectivity. Fourteen organizations also get their international telephone service through an Integrated Voice and Data Network (IVDN).

SINGER communications is carried over IVDN. SINGER can be accessed on the World Wide Web at: http://www.cgiar.org/singer. CGNET e-mail is: postmaster@cgnet.com; fax is 415-325-2313.

Jack Reeves is an international development writer/editor in Greensboro, GA, USA.