A posting from Stephen Katz (FAO) announces the availability of draft documents specifying a Dublin-Core based standard for describing document-like agricultural resources. A 'Metadata Framework' document identifies a "metadata set of core elements and qualifiers that are generic to the description of agricultural resources. This document presents a further development of a specific application profile for description of document and document-like agricultural resources. This gives an example of how a unique application profile can be developed from the generic metadata set. The metadata set describe a minimum level format to allow interoperability between different islands of information." A second document 'Presentation of a metadata set' provides the elements and qualifiers of the proposed standard, presented in a hierarchical structure. The authors have tried to make a clear distinction between where they are applying Dublin Core elements and qualifiers as specified by the DCMI, and where they have suggested additional requirements to meet the needs of the Agricultural Community." An 'Element Description' document supplies definitions "based on formal standards for the description of metadata element sets; there are 10 attributes for defining the DC elements of which all were discussed for their suitability in meeting [the design] needs. The set of attributes conforms to the ISO/IEC 11179 standards for description of data elements."

From the "Metadata Framework" document: "The main project proposal consists of a metadata set of core elements and qualifiers that are generic to the description of agricultural resources. This includes description of project and document resources. However, this document presents a further development of a specific application profile for description of document and document-like agricultural resources. This gives an example of how a unique application profile can be developed from the generic metadata set. This metadata set describe a minimum level format to allow interoperability between different islands of information. Objectives: (1) To facilitate resource discovery; (1) To assist the management of resources by its owners; (3) To enable interoperability between different metadata structures through a minimum low format; (4) To develop a metadata set that is compliant with other standards such as (MARC, ISBD) and new emerging ones like the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative; (5) To develop a metadata set using new tools such as Resource Description Framework (RDF) in HTML and XML, which aid in the exchange of information through [a] providing better search engine capabilities which will assist retrieval for both internal and external search engines, [b] allow inter-operability between applications, and [c] support automated processing of web resources."

From the "Presentation" document: "The main objective of this paper is to develop and propose a metadata set description for document and document-like agricultural resources for the purpose of resource discovery and interoperability between and among uniquely and richly described agricultural resources. The project lies within the framework of a wider and more comprehensive proposal, that promotes a metadata set of core elements and qualifiers that are generic to the description of agricultural resources. Descriptions would thus cover both project and document resources. Preference is given to notation, vocabularies and terms that are currently used in describing agricultural resources..."

From the "Element Description" document: "The paper gives full description of elements that were identified for agricultural resources description as indicated in Appendix 1. The definition is based on formal standards for the description of metadata element sets. This formalization helps to improve consistency with other communities and enhances the clarity, scope and internal consistency of the DC metadata element definition. There are 10 attributes for defining the DC elements of which all were discussed for their suitability in meeting our needs. The set of attributes conforms to the ISO/IEC 11179 standards for description of data elements."