98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2298

 

Introduced 2/15/2013, by Sen. Wm. Sam McCann

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
505 ILCS 82/5

    Amends the Food and Agriculture Research Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the legislative purposes of the Act.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB2298LRB098 09126 MLW 39264 b

1    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Food and Agriculture Research Act is amended
5by changing Section 5 as follows:
 
6    (505 ILCS 82/5)
7    Sec. 5. Findings. It is the the intent of this Act to
8provide a solid base of State funding for public food and
9agricultural research programs in Illinois while fostering
10public confidence in this research through public
11participation. Blessed with rich agricultural soils and a
12favorable agricultural climate, Illinois traditionally ranks
13fourth or fifth among the States in the nation's gross
14agricultural production. The food and agricultural sector,
15employing nearly 20% of the State's workers, is committed to
16providing safe, nutritious, high-quality, affordable, and
17convenient agricultural products and services to Illinois
18citizens. Compared with all other states, however, Illinois
19faces a tremendous challenge to meet its needs for ongoing
20adequate research investments that improve human health while
21protecting and enhancing its natural resources and
22environment. Without adequate State funding, the food and
23agricultural sector faces the consequences of falling behind in

 

 

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1information, projects, and programs affecting human lives and
2the demand for improved nutrition, food quality, human health,
3and environment.
4    Currently, the State's agricultural universities conduct
5research that provides basic information about the structure
6and function of food and agricultural systems. Although these
7agricultural institutions have a remarkable record of
8contributions to an improved food and agricultural sector,
9their research is significantly underfunded. The State's
10Agricultural Experiment Station, maintained as the food and
11agricultural research facilities and program of the University
12of Illinois, ranks only 29th in state funding among the state
13agricultural experiment stations. Southern Illinois University
14at Carbondale, Illinois State University, and Western Illinois
15University also conduct food and agricultural research but
16receive no State appropriated fund allocations. This
17underfunding represents a missed opportunity for Illinois and
18places it in poor competitive position with other important
19agricultural states. The State's consumers and producers reap
20high returns from existing public investment in food and
21agricultural research, with a pretax return of 40%, the highest
22among publicly supported research activities.
23    Illinois needs mechanisms that allow publicly supported
24researchers to work closely with farmers, agribusiness,
25consumers, conservationists, environmentalists, and other key
26decision-makers. Together, these groups can identify

 

 

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1challenges and opportunities for researchers before they
2conduct research and transfer the information and technology.
3This will allow Illinois to retain its prominence as a leading
4agricultural state.
5    The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
6(C-FAR) is a statewide coalition committed to funding relevant
7and high-quality research and related outreach programs
8leading to profitable, consumer-sensitive, and environmentally
9sound food and agricultural systems. The intent of this Act is
10to secure funds to support targeted research initiatives so
11that Illinois will continue to meet tomorrow's food and
12agricultural needs while using our natural resources
13responsibly.
14    The General Assembly of Illinois hereby:
15        (1) Identifies food and agricultural research as a
16    critically important activity with great public benefits.
17        (2) Identifies the State's agricultural universities
18    responsible for basic, developmental, and adaptive
19    research related to the food and agricultural sector; and
20        (3) Authorizes the expenditure of State funds to
21    enlarge, improve, and sustain the publicly supported
22    programs of food and agricultural research in Illinois.
23(Source: P.A. 89-182, eff. 7-19-95.)