May 23, 2000

C-FAR selects projects for FY01 External Competitive Grants Program 

The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) has selected 26 research proposals to fund in FY01 through its External Competitive Grants Program. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC), Western Illinois University (WIU), Illinois State University (ISU), Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc., Illinois State Geological Survey, Sangamon County Soil and Water Conservation District, Illinois State Water Survey, and U.S. Grains Council will receive support for valuable food and agriculture research projects through this yearís program.  

A total of 123 proposals requesting more than $13.0 million were submitted this year from researchers throughout Illinois. Fifteen percent of the total C-FAR appropriation is allocated to this program, which equates to approximately $2.2 million based on the FY01 C-FAR appropriation of $15 million. C-FAR working group members reviewed the proposals, and then met to discuss priorities and make recommendations about which projects they would like to see funded. In all, more than 100 people were involved in this process. ìThis program benefits from having producers and consumers on the front line making decisions as to which projects to fund. This type of private sector involvement in directing public research funding sets Illinois uniquely apart from other states,î says Kraig Wagenecht, C-FAR executive administrator. 

The balance of the C-FAR appropriation of about $12.8 million will be allocated to UIUC, SIUC, ISU, WIU and C-FARís five Strategic Research Initiatives to support critical food and agriculture research across a variety of industry needs. 

A complete list of FY01 External Competitive Grants Program funded projects can be found on the C-FAR website at: http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~c-far/research/fy01external.html.

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