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Exchange of Notes (March 31, and April 10,1978) between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America concerning Co-operation in the Development of Space Remote Sensing for Global Crop Information [1978] CATSer 6 (10 April 1978)

E103822 - CTS 1978 No. 7

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONCERNING CO-OPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE REMOTE SENSING FOR GLOBAL CROP INFORMATION

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The Ambassador of Canada to the Secretary of State of the United States of America

WASHINGTON, March 31, 1978

No. 136

The Honourable Cyrus R. Vance
The Secretary of State
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have the honour to refer to discussions between representatives of the Canadian Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration regarding proposals for co-operation in the development of space remote sensing for global crop information. The objective of the proposed cooperation is to improve the accuracy of each country's crop forecasts through an exchange of strategies, methodology and ground truth information.

I have the honour to inform you that the Government of Canada approves of the proposed co-operative programme outlined in the attached Memorandum of Understanding for Co-operation in the Development of Space Remote Sensing for Global Crop Information between the Department of Agriculture of Canada and the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America with the Participation of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of Canada, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States signed on March 14, 1978. It is understood that implementation and direction of the Canadian participation in the programme shall be the primary responsibility of the Department of Agriculture of Canada and that implementation and direction of the United States participation shall be the primary responsibility of the Department of Agriculture of the United States. It is further understood that the proposed programme shall be without prejudice to any rights and obligations of our Governments under international law with respect to remote sensing activities. The present Agreement shall be subject to review by the two Governments at any time following acceptance by both Governments of any future multilateral instrument dealing with the same substantive matters.

If the programme outlined in the attached Memorandum of Understanding meets with the approval of your Government, I have the honour to propose that this Note, together with the attached Memorandum of Understanding, which are authentic in English and French, and your reply to that effect, shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments for co-operation in the development of space remote sensing for global crop information, to be effective from the date of your reply for a period of three years unless terminated earlier by either Government upon six months written notice, or extended by mutual agreement of the two Governments.

Accept, Mr. Secretary, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Peter M. Towe

Ambassador

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR CO-OPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE REMOTE SENSING FOR GLOBAL CROP INFORMATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF CANADA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, MINES AND RESOURCES OF CANADA, THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES

The Department of Agriculture of Canada and the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America; hereinafter called the "Parties";

Desiring to co-operate in the area of application of earth observation technology for peaceful purposes, particularly as regards global crop information;

Bearing in mind the Exchange of Notes between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America of May 14, 1971, constituting an Agreement concerning a joint programme in the field of experimental remote sensing from satellites and aircraft, as amended and extended by an Exchange of Notes of March 19 and 22, 1976;

Noting existing Canada-United States collaboration in the Spring Wheat Project:

Have agreed on the following:

1. This Memorandum of Understanding outlines a programme of co-operation between the Parties in the area of application of earth observation technology, particularly as regards global crop information. In this regard the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of Canada, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be considered as participating Department and Agencies for the purposes of this Memorandum of Understanding.

2. It is understood that this programme of co-operation is subject to the availability of funds, in the case of each of the Parties and of the participating Department and Agencies.

3. The following co-ordinating procedures will be adopted:

(a) A Steering Committee will be set up composed of officers nominated by each of the Parties. A senior officer will be designated as the Canadian co-chairman by the Department of Agriculture of Canada in consultation with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of Canada. The United States co-chairman will be a senior officer designated by the United States Department of Agriculture in consultation with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(b) The two co-chairmen will convene a meeting of the Steering Committee within three months of the signature of this Memorandum of Understanding to determine an initial programme of work to be carried out subject to the direction of the Steering Committee.

(c) The Steering Committee will consider the priorities of work to be undertaken under the programme, the means of carrying out the agreed areas of co-operation and the allocation of specific responsibilities to the Parties. It will meet periodically thereafter to review progress and results.

(d) Standing and ad hoc sub-committees of the Steering Committee may be formed for specific purposes.

(e) An annual review meeting will be convened by the Steering Committee.

4. The Parties will exchange experience and information in specified subject areas, under the procedures and conditions outlined in the attached Annex. The primary aim is to provide for an organized exchange of information which may be extended, by mutual agreement, to an exchange of visits and of staff for specified periods, and to joint projects. Each Party will bear its own travel costs and related expenses under the programme.

5. It is understood that the programme of co-operation envisaged under this Memorandum of Understanding will be carried out for a period of three years and for any subsequent experimental follow-on periods as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties subject to the approval of the Governments of Canada and of the United States of America.

6. Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding signify their concurrence below. This Memorandum of Understanding will enter into force when signed by the Parties and approved by the Governments of Canada and of the United States of America through an exchange of diplomatic Notes. The Memorandum of Understanding will be reviewed by the Steering Committee no less frequently than every twelve months to ensure that the overall objectives of the programme are being achieved.

DONE in two copies at Washington, this 14th day of March 1978, in the English and French languages, each text being equally authentic.

Eugene Whelan

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF CANADA

Robert Bergland

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ANNEX

1. An annual review will be held to discuss the crop classification and mensuration strategies employed, suggested modifications, and data and information required for the coming year. This will include sampling strategy for acreage and yield estimates of selected areas, and review of relevant research and introduction of new concepts.

2. The Canadian and United States participants will conduct independent area and yield analyses based on remotely sensed data from satellites and other platforms, meteorological stations, and ground test sites. By agreement, selected aspects of the programme may be co-ordinated to enable direct comparison of methods and results across various climatic cropping systems for selected agricultural areas.

3. Technical information related to crop production systems, historic crop estimates, climatic and weather information, procedural concepts, and research and technical reports which would normally be published and available upon request, will be freely exchanged among all the participants.

4. Each year, during the cropping season, there will be a prompt exchange of field data (ground truth information), aerial photographs and related information from selected test sites as mutually agreed.

5. No regular exchange of raw satellite data is anticipated. Supplementary raw satellite data will be exchanged when necessary for the joint programme and as mutually agreed.

6. Computer software, agromet modelling information, and other technical information and expertise will be exchanged on an equitable and mutually agreed basis.

7. The confidentiality of current acreage, yield, and production estimates arising from this programme will be maintained in accordance with current release regulations and practices of responsible crop reporting and marketing agencies of each country. In addition, each country will provide prior notification of the date or schedule of dates on which such estimates will be released for publication.

8. Apart from considerations in item 7, retrospective research results and technical reports will be freely available.

9. In addition to the annual review meeting, special technical meetings may be arranged as required for carrying out the objectives of the programme. Information meetings may also be held to assist in the consideration of future Canada-United States co-operation in crop evaluation programmes.

10. Consistent with applicable laws and regulations, materials exchanged under items 4 and 6 in support of this joint programme will be disseminated to third countries only with the agreement of the furnishing agency.

11. Recognizing the historical commitments of both countries to share the benefits of space research, and consistent with respective national regulations as referred to in item 7, and as limited by item 10, the participants will share the results of this joint programme with the international community. Each country may provide the FAO, WMO, World Bank and other interested agencies with periodic reports on the results of its respective experiments.

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The Secretary of State for the United States of America to the Ambassador of Canada

WASHINGTON, April 10, 1978

His Excellency Peter M. Towe
Ambassador of Canada

Excellency:

I have the honor to refer to your note of March 31, 1978 regarding a program for co-operation in the development of space remote sensing for global crop information.

The program outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding for Co-operation in the Development of Space Remote Sensing for Global Crop Information between the Department of Agriculture of Canada and the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America with the participation of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of Canada, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States signed on March 14, 1978 meets with the approval of my Government and my Government concurs in your proposal that your note and this reply together with the attached Memorandum of Understanding shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments for co-operation in the development of space remote sensing for global crop information, to be effective on the date of this reply for a period of three years unless terminated earlier by either Government upon six months written notice, or extended by mutual agreement of the two Governments.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Secretary of State:

R. C. Brewster