(505 ILCS 82/5)
Sec. 5.
Findings.
It is the intent of this Act to provide a solid base
of State funding for public food and agricultural research programs in
Illinois while fostering public confidence in this research through public
participation. Blessed with rich agricultural soils and a favorable
agricultural
climate, Illinois traditionally ranks fourth or fifth among the States in the
nation's gross agricultural production. The food and agricultural sector,
employing nearly 20% of the State's workers, is committed to providing safe,
nutritious, high-quality, affordable, and convenient agricultural products and
services to Illinois citizens. Compared with all other states, however,
Illinois faces a tremendous challenge to meet its needs for ongoing adequate
research investments that improve human health while protecting and enhancing
its natural resources and environment. Without adequate State funding, the
food and agricultural sector faces the consequences of falling behind in
information, projects, and programs affecting human lives and the demand for
improved nutrition, food quality, human health, and environment.
Currently, the State's agricultural universities conduct research that
provides basic information about the structure and function of food and
agricultural systems. Although these agricultural institutions have a
remarkable record of contributions to an improved food and agricultural sector,
their research is significantly underfunded. The State's Agricultural
Experiment Station, maintained as the food and agricultural research facilities
and program of the University of Illinois, ranks only 29th in state funding
among the state agricultural experiment stations. Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale, Illinois State University, and Western Illinois University also
conduct food and agricultural research but receive no State appropriated fund
allocations. This underfunding represents a missed opportunity for Illinois
and places it in poor competitive position with other important agricultural
states. The State's consumers and producers reap high returns from existing
public investment in food and agricultural research, with a pretax return of
40%, the highest among publicly supported research activities.
Illinois needs mechanisms that allow publicly supported researchers to work
closely with farmers, agribusiness, consumers, conservationists,
environmentalists, and other key decision-makers. Together, these groups can
identify challenges and opportunities for researchers before they conduct
research and transfer the information and technology. This will allow Illinois
to retain its prominence as a leading agricultural state.
The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) is a statewide
coalition committed to funding relevant and high-quality research and related
outreach
programs leading to profitable, consumer-sensitive, and environmentally sound
food and agricultural systems. The intent of this Act is to secure funds to
support targeted research initiatives so that Illinois will continue to meet
tomorrow's food and agricultural needs while using our natural resources
responsibly.
The General Assembly of Illinois hereby:
(1) Identifies food and agricultural research as a |