Future of Illinois' #1 Industry Hinges on Release of Critical Research Funds

URBANA -- The research foundation for Illinois food and agriculture, the state's number one industry and economic engine, is in serious jeopardy according to the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). The State of Illinois FY08 appropriation of $4.5 million for food and agricultural research, enacted by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor, has been withheld. "We are at a critical juncture of there being long-term and irreparable damage to our state's primary food and agricultural research program," said Nels Kasey, C-FAR chairman. Should this appropriation not be released, the total short-term economic loss alone to Illinois is estimated at $47 million.

The vast majority of the 73 research initiatives in the current FY08 research portfolio will be stopped immediately.

The estimated economic loss is comprised of recent State of Illinois research appropriation investments being lost; the economic and societal benefits of this research not being realized; and the loss of federal and other funding which is often successfully leveraged from C-FAR research initiatives. "The total financial deprivation associated with the FY08 appropriation not being released compounds greatly," Kasey shared.

An additional disruptive impact is on research personnel. A minimum 75 individuals will be negatively impacted; many losing their job.

Alan Puzey, who served as C-FAR chairman from 2002 to 2008 says, "Illinois has benefited from a highly accomplished research faculty across our state. However, we are losing this intellectual capacity to states which make food and agricultural research a much higher priority." Illinois currently ranks next to last in the Midwest for its funding of food and agricultural research. This lack of funding is resulting in both researchers leaving Illinois and the inability to attract the best scientists to the state.

"The future of Illinois agriculture rests on having a sound and consistently funded research program. During this period of immense change in production agriculture and food technologies, we as a state must re-prioritize the absolute importance of research to underpin Illinois' continuing status as a national food and agricultural leader," says Puzey.

Negatively impacted research personnel would also include graduate and post-doctoral students. "The educational program of these young professionals will be decimated," says Puzey. He cites that masters and Ph.D. students are engaged in numerous C-FAR research initiatives as a key component of their degree work. Wendell Shauman, a C-FAR member and grain producer from Warren County, earned a Ph.D. in genetics and said, "I can't imagine what I would have done if the funding for the research for my Masters or Ph.D. was cut off mid-stream. What a devastating blow that would have been."

Steve Scates, a member of the C-FAR Board of Directors, said "Over the past 15 years, volunteer members of C-FAR, in partnership with the State of Illinois and our research community, have worked tirelessly to develop our state's research program to be directly responsive to Illinois' needs and opportunities. We look forward to the State of Illinois finding a resolution in releasing the FY08 C-FAR appropriation to avoid a total collapse of this progress."

The C-FAR membership is comprised of 60 industry-based organizations representing virtually every aspect of Illinois' food and agricultural sectors and 40 research-based entities from throughout Illinois. C-FAR has been hailed nationally as the premier organization of its kind. "I can't fathom the demise of this organization and what it would mean to the future of our state's food and agricultural industry. I trust our State of Illinois officials will concur this is unacceptable," said Kasey.

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