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MONTHLY
UPDATE
News for C-FAR Members
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural
Research
April 2009
Greetings from C-FAR. Highlights of the past month, beginning with a special message from the Board of Directors, include the following.
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* SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS *
FY09 C-FAR APPROPRIATION RELEASE
We are pleased to report the FY09 C-FAR appropriation has been authorized for release. With deep gratitude, we are mindful of the many C-FAR members who requested this release from state officials and the elected and appointed officials who were instrumental in securing its release. This funding is absolutely critical for sustaining current research, the research teams, and more. The necessary paperwork for the issuance of these funds has been completed, and the appropriation’s disbursement is currently in the state’s payment queue. We look forward to the receipt of these funds as soon as is possible.
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ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY AVAILABLE
If you are interested, we have several copies of a 2009-2010 Legislative Directory of the 96th Illinois General Assembly. In addition to providing contact and committee information on every member of the State Senate and House of Representatives, the directory also includes contact information on our state’s constitutional officers and agencies, Illinois’ U.S. Congressional delegation, and more.
Just let us know of your interest and we will be happy to put a directory in the mail to you.
ISU AG CHAIR APPOINTED
Dr. Robert “Rob” Rhykerd, who has been serving as the Interim Chair of the Illinois State University Department of Agriculture, was named the department’s permanent chair this past month. After a national search for this important post, Dr. Rhykerd was tapped to provide the department’s continued and future leadership. Dr. Rhykerd, like his predecessors, has been a highly supportive and contributing university administrator to C-FAR, and we look forward to continuing to work with him. Congratulations, Rob!
ENERGY BIOSCIENCES REPORT
In February 2007, energy company BP announced it was awarding $500 million to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of California at Berkeley, and the Berkeley National Laboratory for the establishment of an Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI). Illinois is anticipated to be a $100 million-plus recipient of this funding and is a significant collaborator in the institute. We know from UIUC program leaders that C-FAR’s research in biomass energy was a pivotal factor in UIUC being selected as a partner for this funding and resulting research being conducted.
The EBI’s first annual report was recently issued and copies are available upon request. Just let us know if you would like a copy. This annual report is also available online at http://www.energybiosciencesinstitute.org/
C-FAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPOINTED
We tip our hat to the many C-FAR members who have accepted Chairman Hicks’s and the Board’s invitation to serve on a C-FAR committee for the coming year. Our committees are highly important to our progress. The newly-appointed committees can be reviewed at http://www.ilcfar.org/organization/index.html (scroll down to select a committee). A hardcopy listing of committee members is also available upon request.
SPECIAL FEATURE
C-FAR RESEARCH PORTFOLIOS – BALANCING ILLINOIS DEMANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES
By state statute, C-FAR research appropriations are “to support a broad program of food and agricultural research, to include, but not limited to, research on natural resource, environmental, economic, nutritional, and social impacts of agricultural systems, human and animal health, and the concerns of consumers of food and agricultural products and services.”
This is obviously a significant mandate. And yet, it parallels the intent of the C-FAR appropriation being the base of funding for our state’s only comprehensive food and agricultural research program. Meeting these many needs is however challenging, especially during the current period of limited resources. At the same time, I contend the C-FAR research portfolio remains true to this high calling, to the extent annual appropriations allow.
The development of C-FAR’s annual research portfolios is not driven by a formula or otherwise allocated on a pro rata basis by industry sector. Doing so would suggest a formula is more important than the quality of research. In addition, due to our programs being competitive, all funded research is selected via a proposal process.
From my experience, C-FAR members and our research partners have always placed the greatest priority on the quality of science and its importance for advancing issues of relevance to Illinois. As proposals are reviewed, there is also an understandable appreciation for our state’s economic anchors – those being our traditional agricultural commodities (corn, soybean, pork, and beef) and the food processing sector. Add to this the additional opportunities in alternative agriculture, rural development, human nutrition, natural resources and more, and one finds that our state is rich in its diversity and needs. Our approach to having five working groups (which represent five general research themes) has seemingly served Illinois well; understanding that this platform should always be subject to revision and update.
We were recently encouraged to provide summary analyses of our most recent portfolios. We have done so for FY08 and FY09, and these analyses summarize C-FAR research funding and number of initiatives by industry sector. These analyses are available at http://www.ilcfar.org/fy08research.pdf and http://www.ilcfar.org/fy09research.pdf. These documents are enclosed for those receiving this update via U.S. mail.
We felt this information would be of interest to you, and it is provided for informational purposes only. As long as we continue to have engaged industry member representatives and university research colleagues, we will be in the strong position of developing research portfolios that advance our state’s various food and agricultural research demands and opportunities.
As we look ahead, we find...
2010 C-FAR ANNUAL MEETING
The 2010 C-FAR Annual Meeting has been set for February 16 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. While we know this is in the distance, we would appreciate you noting the date.
UIUC AGRONOMY DAY
The University of Illinois has announced plans for its 53rd consecutive Agronomy Day. It will be held August 13; one week earlier than usual. Event organizers have indicated the date was changed to avoid potential conflicts with other agricultural events. More information on this year’s Agronomy Day is available at http://agronomyday.cropsci.illinois.edu/.
STATE OF ILLINOIS BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUE
The Illinois General Assembly returned from its recess on April 21 and Senators and Representatives are directing significant attention to the development of the FY10 State of Illinois budget. C-FAR Chairman Hicks presented testimony to both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees during the past month. C-FAR leaders will continue to remain engaged in this important process, and as appropriate will request C-FAR members’ engagement to further our request of a FY10 appropriation of $5.7 million.
The $5.7 million appropriation request is based on (1) a funding level that would allow for a modest number of new initiatives, including the potential restarting of the Strategic Research Initiative Program, and (2) the level approved by the Illinois General Assembly last year but which was unfortunately line-item reduced by the previous administration to $2.275 million.
The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn May 31.
All our best for a safe, productive, and enjoyable month of May.
Kraig
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Kraig A. Wagenecht, Executive Administrator
Illinois Council on Food & Agricultural Research (C-FAR)
1101 W. Peabody Drive · Urbana, IL 61801
Tel: 217.244.4232 · Fax: 217.244.8594
email: wagenech@illinois.edu
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