June 19, 2001

C-FAR selects 30 research projects through external competitive grants program

The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) has selected 30 high priority research projects to fund through its FY02 External Competitive Grants Program. A record number of proposals were submitted this year from researchers throughout Illinois, with 162 pre-proposals submitted requesting in excess of $17 million. Approximately $2.2 million is available through this program based on a FY02 C-FAR appropriation of $15 million. C-FAR working group members volunteered many hours working diligently to review the proposals, discuss priorities, and make decisions about which projects to fund.

"Through this program, C-FAR members, representing broad-based food and agricultural interests from throughout Illinois, work together to prioritize and select research efforts for funding that will support our industry's most vital needs," said David Downs, C-FAR Research Chair. "Their dedication and commitment to the success of this program is impressive. In all, more than 150 people were involved in this year's proposal selection process."

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC), Western Illinois University (WIU), Illinois State University (ISU), University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), Illinois Institute of Technology, and Illinois State Water Survey will receive support for research initiatives through this year's program. The balance of the C-FAR appropriation of about $12.8 million will be allocated to UIUC, SIUC, ISU, WIU and C-FAR's five Strategic Research Initiatives to support critical food and agriculture research across a variety of industry needs.

A complete list of FY02 External Competitive Grants Program funded projects can be found on the C-FAR website at: www.ilcfar.org/research/fy02external.html.

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