Research Funding Reduction the Wrong Direction

URBANA--Officials at the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) warn a potential reduction in a FY09 State of Illinois appropriation, as announced this week, would greatly jeopardize Illinois' economy. In response to an apparent unbalanced proposed FY09 State of Illinois budget, state administration officials released a list of funds that would be "unavailable" should other budget-balancing measures not be approved.

The list of potential cuts to the FY09 State budget includes a significant reduction to the state's food and agricultural research appropriation from $5.7 million to $2.275 million.

"Illinois and U.S. citizens are currently struggling to afford record high food, energy, and fuel prices. Illinois' food and agricultural industry, through a soundly funded research program, can find critical solutions to these economic hardships," says Jerry Hicks, C-FAR research chair. "In more general terms, Illinois' entire economy directly hinges on a strong food and agricultural system - a $1.5 billion industry for Illinois."

Referred to as the C-FAR appropriation, funding for the state's food and agricultural research program was $4.5 million for the 2008 fiscal year. The FY09 budget, approved by the Illinois General Assembly on May 31, set the C-FAR appropriation at $5.7 million; an increase that is sorely needed according to C-FAR leaders. The appropriation had been $15 million as recently as FY02, but was reduced over the past few years due to the state's budget difficulties.

"While we fully understand the difficulties our state's elected officials face in balancing the FY09 budget, any reduction in food and agricultural research is the wrong direction for a healthy Illinois economy at a time when the demands on our industry are at a record level," says Nels Kasey, C-FAR chairman. "We fully embrace and support the $5.7 million appropriation level; it will enable our state's food and agricultural industry and research partners to address the state's most critical needs and opportunities."

C-FAR officials share that an appropriation of $2.275 million would likely not even meet the funding commitments of ongoing research; let alone the heavy demands of new research imperative to new discoveries and advancements in such areas as biofuels, human nutrition, food security, and natural resource protection. In FY09, new research demands are expected to be in excess of $30 million.

Steve Scates, C-FAR legislative chair, said, "We take our responsibility to implement a sound food and agricultural research program very seriously. This is not only a responsibility to our state's number one industry, but to every Illinois citizen."

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