One of the world's staples -- the potato -- has been pounded by disease and pestilence for centuries, but small farms soon may get a reprieve: Scientists from Cornell University's International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) have linked results of U.S. private research with Third World agriculturists to create a more safe, secure and abundant global food supply.

ISAAA brokered a deal that allows Monsanto Agricultural Co. of St. Louis to transfer a gene called a "proprietary coat protein" for virus resistance in Mexican potatoes. At the start of the project in 1991, Monsanto agreed to donate its transgenic potato virus X (PVX) and potato virus Y (PVY) gene biotechnology. The technology -- at the seed level -- allows small farmers in developing countries to grow certain potato varieties without worry. Growers in the United States use disease-free, certified seed and tolerant varieties. Monsanto researchers worked closely with Mexican agriculturists, who in turn will distribute the improved varieties to the country's small farmers.

"The Mexican potato project provided ISAAA the perfect case for demonstrating such a model," said K.V. Raman, director of ISAAA's AmeriCenter, based in Ithaca, N.Y. He also is Cornell professor of plant breeding. "ISAAA's mission was to demonstrate that partnerships can be built between the private and public sectors of industrial countries and governments in the Third World. These partnerships truly allow the sharing of proprietary agricultural biotechnology applications."

Before the link between Monsanto and the Mexican government, almost 80 percent of the potato seed was not certified, which meant that most of that seed was infected with plant-harming viruses. To combat the problems, farmers used heavy amounts of pesticides.

Despite those efforts, crop losses could be up to 10 percent of the PVX and up to 15 percent for the PVY. Meanwhile, another problem, the potato leaf roll virus, could account for severe crop losses of up to 50 percent. Raman says that agri-biotechnology transfer will alleviate such devastating situations.

With high pesticide use and low crop yields, the partnership became a golden gift. "Developing countries are acutely concerned about the over-reliance on inputs, such as pesticides and fertilizers, particularly for strategic areas like food security," Raman said.

ISAAA is known as an "honest broker," in that it receives no direct financial benefit from bringing the two parties together. ISAAA obtains its funding from a variety of private research foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and companies. For donating biotechnology to developing countries, American private research interests obtain toeholds into new markets without major bureaucratic obstacles. The companies also have a new place to test newer biotechnology, where viral strains may be different from those in North America. Also, other entities, such as seed companies and grower organizations, benefit from sharing new information.

The developing countries learn new ways to feed their people by obtaining already-tried American techniques. They also receive extensive experience in working with established private companies.

Potato late blight -- the disease blamed for the great Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s -- remains the number one problem for potato growers around the world. These partnerships provide American research companies more opportunities to seek sensible, environmentally friendly solutions for late blight.

"ISAAA was formed in recognition of the fact that new partnerships are needed if we are to deal effectively with the problems confronting global food production," said Ronnie Coffman, a member of ISAAA's board of directors and Cornell professor of plant breeding. "The ISAAA project involving the deployment in Mexico of donated, proprietary technology from Monsanto is a good example of such a partnership. Many more such linkages are needed if we are to sustain and enhance agricultural production worldwide." In 1995, ISAAA brought together Monsanto and the Kenya Agriculture Research Institute in Nairobi. Kenyan agriculturists identified many of the same potato pest problems as seen in Mexico.

Because of the success of the PVX and PVY technology transfers, Monsanto and the Mexican agriculturists are looking to enhance resistance to the potato leaf roll virus by incorporating a replicase gene -- preventing the disease from multiplying.

"We've learned that relatively simple projects are an effective means of building mutual trust between traditionally unlikely partners," said Raman. "There were clearly understood responsibilities on both sides, which ultimately benefits the small farmers in developing countries."