November 23, 1998

Large, enthusiastic turn-out for C-FAR semi-annual meeting

More than 125 leaders in the food and agriculture industry in Illinois recently attended the semi-annual meeting of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). The one-day meeting was held at the Illinois Department of Agriculture in Springfield.

In her report to members, director and membership chair Carol Keiser indicated a steady increase in the number of C-FAR members. There are currently 55 organizational members, 15 affiliate members and 117 individual members of C-FAR. Membership numbers in 1998 represent more than a 20 percent increase from 1997.

Director Jeff Brooks provided a summary of current C-FAR-funded research projects. In FY99, 184 projects were started, and 74 projects were continued from FY98 - for a total of 258 projects.

C-FAR board chairman Terry Wolf recapped some highlights of the organization during the last several months. "C-FAR once again was successful in achieving an increase in the State appropriation for food and agricultural research in Illinois. There was solid support for a $12 million appropriation from all constituents. C-FAR members, the Governor, state legislators and others who have a vested interest in our activities displayed a tremendous amount of support.

"Both Gubernatorial candidates publicly announced that they strongly support C-FAR, and each made a commitment to increase the appropriation to $15 million in fiscal year 2000," Wolf said. "While this support is very gratifying, it surely causes us to work harder than ever to ensure that this support continues."

In his remarks to the group, C-FAR executive administrator Kraig Wagenecht talked about evaluating research funded by the organization. "With our research portfolio continuing to increase in terms of both raw numbers and complexity, mechanisms to gauge how well we are doing will also continue to become more complex. We need to know if we are meeting the objectives we have set."

Leaders of the five Strategic Research Initiatives (SRI) presented updates about each of the SRIs. The SRIs represent areas identified as being important to Illinois consumers and the food and agriculture industry - food safety and functional foods; information systems and technology; rural community development; swine odor and waste management and water quality. The SRIs are a way to organize and direct researchers' and C-FAR members' attention to resolving big, long-term issues.

Five people were re-elected to serve on the C-FAR board of directors - Brooks of Prophetstown; Constance Locher Bussard, Springfield; Jack Erisman, Pana; Keiser of Carlinville and Wolf of Homer.

Following the meeting, the five working groups met to review currently funded research and to elect group leaders for the next year. C-FAR working group members play a key role in determining the types of research projects that C-FAR will fund. C-FAR members provide input through the working group process.

C-FAR is a statewide coalition organized to support relevant, high-quality research and related outreach programs for Illinois' food and agricultural systems.

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