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February 10, 2004
Web-based Information and Tools Help Consumers and Illinois' Top Industry
Illinois is now a leading source and beneficiary of information resources
and tools in a wide variety of food and agricultural application areas
due to research funded by the State of Illinois through the Illinois Council
on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). In 1998, C-FAR launched a five-year
Information Systems and Technologies Strategic Research Initiative (IT-SRI)
to improve the availability, integration, delivery and use of information
throughout the global food and agricultural systems, with a special focus
on Illinois. More than 60 researchers from across Illinois collaborated
to develop innovative Web-based information resources and tools that would
benefit consumers, farmers, agribusiness professionals, natural resource
managers, and the general public. With the $3.9 million initiative officially
ending in June 2003, a wealth of information and useful decision-support
tools are now available at one's fingertips.
"The Web and other technologies offer ways for us to do more with
information - not only to make information available, but also to make
it available in creative and integrated ways that add value," said
Sarahelen Thompson, initial SRI leader. "These technologies also
bring the user closer to research-based information."
The following websites are just a sampling of the comprehensive information
systems developed by IT-SRI researchers that are now available on the
Web:
- NAT Tools for Good Health at www.nat.uiuc.edu
helps consumers analyze their diet and food choices.
- Farmdoc at www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu
provides farmers with decision-making information and analysis tools.
- Illinois Integrated Pest Management Online at www.ipm.uiuc.edu
contains information on a comprehensive approach to controlling insects,
weeds, and plant pathogens with environmentally and economically sound
practices.
- Illinois Agronomy Handbook at www.ag.uiuc.edu/iah
includes chapters on climatology, corn production, soybean production,
alternative crop production, water quality, nutrient management, tillage
systems, weed control, insect management, and more.
- Illinois Trail at http://traill.outreach.uiuc.edu
provides integrated research information on livestock industries.
- Resource Management Mapping Service at http://space1.itcs.uiuc.edu/website/rmms
aids watershed management groups in planning projects by providing geographical
information about Illinois watersheds.
Additional information resources and decision-making tools are available
through the IT-SRI main website at http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/sriit.
"All of these sites provide the latest information using state of
the art technology," said Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois
associate professor of agricultural and consumer economics and IT-SRI
leader.
The C-FAR SRI Program was established to implement a targeted, multidisciplinary,
and multi-institutional team approach to addressing major concerns and
opportunities for Illinois' food, agriculture, and related industries
and consumers. Other SRIs established by the C-FAR membership in 1998
focused on rural community development, swine odor and waste management,
food safety, and water quality. These research initiatives also ended
in June 2003 and have resulted in tremendous benefits for Illinois' food,
agricultural, and related industries and for the citizens of Illinois.
"The business of food agriculture is much different today than
it was just a few years ago," said Larry Fischer, C-FAR board member
and research chair. "Today, access to reliable up-to-date information
is key in making strategic business decisions and nutrition-related decisions.
We are proud of the wealth of information the IT-SRI team has brought
to fruition for the public's benefit."
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