The one-story white building, nestled on the south end of the BYU campus, is unpretentious.

Inside is a small laboratory, a library, some research and technical equipment and offices of a four-member staff. Few would expect that thousands of people throughout the world have benefited from the work that goes on in this building.The Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute has accomplished much in its 14 years of existence. Begun with one purpose in mind - to raise the quality of life of the people of the world - the institute and its army of 1,500 volunteers strives to teach families how to become self-reliant.

"The Benson Institute uses as a foundation for its projects the basic principle of becoming self-reliant," observed the institute's newly appointed director, James B. Jensen.

"We are not a rural development organization," Jensen continued. "Although we do work with local farmers, we also work through government agencies and schools to transfer our technology to in-country institutions that can then disseminate the technology to their own people."

"Our goal is to help universities, technical schools, and relief organizations in developing countries make this program their program," explained Richard L. Brimhall, associate director of the institute. "Ideally, we like to spend two to five years establishing and teaching the principles and then move into a consulting position."

The program that Brimhall described is the Benson Institute Family Self-Reliance Program, developed through years of research and study. It consists of six components: basic human needs assessment, small scale crop production, small-scale animal production, appropriate technology, health and nutrition, and literacy and education.

"The program is designed to address in an appropriate sequence each of these components and then to implement them in such a way that the quality of life for families improves toward self-reliance.

"First, the family quality of life is assessed to establish a base line from which to develop an appropriate outline," Brimhall said. At this point, keeping in mind the climate and quality of soil found in an area, a small scale crop production plan is designed with the family.

"Basically, the project involves the integration of crop and small animal production to provide a family of seven with an adequate and reliable food supply," Jensen explained. "Because the Benson Institute system is based on a nutrition model, a variety of crops are grown that satisfy both the nutritional needs of family members and of the small animals they raise. The small-scale farm may also provide income as excess animal and agricultural products are sold."

Because food availability and supply is a basic need, the small-scale crop production and animal production components have received the greatest development emphasis at the institute. These components grew out of research and development at the BYU farm in Spanish Fork, Utah, beginning in 1978 and were tested on small family farms in Ecuador in the early 1980s. As of the present, work with the small-scale agricultural program has been done in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala and Mexico.

When a family begins the small scale agricultural plan, it first concentrates on growing crops. After one harvest of crops, small animals are introduced into the family's small-scale production plan. Rabbits, chickens, goats, and guinea pigs are the most common. In some areas in the Andes high plains of Bolivia and Peru, local villagers have learned how to feed and care for fish in hatcheries and earthen ponds.

Once a family's basic needs are being met, focus can be directed to other areas. The appropriate technology, health and nutrition, and literacy and education components can then be introduced.

The Benson Institute has developed several small tools that can be utilized on small farms, including water pumps, solar-powered ovens and stoves and a small tractor/trailer. The tools are designed to be manufactured and maintained locally and at affordable prices. "These tools lift the burden from the backs of the people and give them a little more time," Brimhall noted.

That time can be spent learning about health and nutrition, as well as studying other subjects that are interesting and worthwhile.

Institute projects are not just restricted to introducing the small-scale agricultural plan to developing countries. Institute personnel have been involved in projects in the Philippines and Egypt. Last year, the Church sent institute representatives to the African countries of Nigeria and Ghana. "We looked at the feasibility of helping Church members who are farmers in those countries," Brimhall explained.

The institute is involved in international faculty exchanges and training programs and internships with several South American countries. It also sponsors an annual seminar, held in various locations, for farmers implementing the small-scale agricultural program.

The institute also has developed several canning and food preservation techniques. In conjunction with the BYU Food Science Department, the institute runs a quality control laboratory that tests food product samples from the more than 40 Church-owned food processing plants in the United States. Booklets on gardening, food storage and nutritious eating have been published by the institute and are available for $1 each.

"We really are involved in a lot of things," Brimhall noted. "But there's certainly a lot more we could do."

The institute's only limit is financial. Except for the salaries of the three institute personnel and one secretary, all the institute projects and research are funded by donations.

"Most of the people who work with us are volunteers," Brimhall explained. "The fish used in our aquaculture projects was also donated. Seeds and equipment are often donated.

"Right now, we're working to establish a $10 million endowment," he continued. "Upon reaching this kind of financial stability, we will be able to make major contributions in helping people in many parts of the world raise their quality of life."

*****

(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)

Ezra Taft Benson institute offers unique resources to meet needs

Through the establishment of the Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute, BYU is applying its unique resources - both local and foreign - to meet immediate agricultural needs. Specifically, the institute is:

1. Measuring common dietary deficiencies in selected geographic areas.

2. Developing new sources of food from presently underused or obscure indigenous plants and other resources.

3. Determining which fibers, animals, and plants can be introduced into given areas as additional food sources.

4. Teaching principles of food preparation, storage and preservation.

5. Working through delivery systems that will ensure the results of the institute's research will reach the people who most need it.

6. Training local leaders to implement the institute's programs in health and agriculture.

7. Organizing in developing countries a substantial number of trained, mature volunteers to apply professional expertise and experience.

8. Providing capital and technical assistance to families or groups of families who are developing their own resources.