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