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 C-FAR
Monthly Update
Executive Administrator Kraig Wagenecht provides
an update on C-FAR monthly highlights and activities:
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ILLINOIS' RESEARCH COMMUNITY:
C-FAR's External Competitive Grants
Program on Temporary Suspension
C-FAR's External Competitive Grants Program (External Program)
has been temporarily suspended. Proposals for new research
initiatives will not be solicited for FY10 funding. Details
regarding the temporary suspension of the External Program
include:
- The External Program, per legislation, is funded at
a minimum of 15% of the annual C-FAR appropriation (in
practice, the program has been funded at 15%).
- Historically within C-FAR, multi-year External Program
initiatives have been fully funded upfront from the program
funding in the year the project was initiated. A slight
change in this protocol has been adopted, resulting in
FY09 multi-year initiatives being funded from both the
FY09 and FY10 External Program allocations (pending the
FY10 C-FAR appropriation).
- The reduced level of the FY09 C-FAR appropriation prompted
this change in protocol to enable a larger number of initiatives
to be funded than would be possible if the traditional
funding protocol was used. This was deemed particularly
important, as the proposals submitted to the FY09 program
were of significant quality and the C-FAR working groups
had identified several high priority initiatives for funding.
- It has been noted that the nationally accepted method
of funding multi-year research initiatives is year-to-year
(rather than funding such initiatives fully upfront).
Note: C-FAR's partner university internal programs and
strategic research initiative (SRI) program fund multi-year
initiatives on a year-to-year basis.
- To accommodate this more widely accepted funding protocol,
the solicitation of new initiatives through the FY10 External
Program is not possible.
The revised funding protocol for the FY09 and FY10 External
programs was enacted after an extensive consideration of
numerous factors. This direction was deemed to serve the
best interests of Illinois' research community and C-FAR's
working groups. It is also the most prudent investment of
the FY09 and FY10 C-FAR appropriations from the State of
Illinois.
C-FAR looks forward to the ability of issuing a request
for pre-proposals for the FY11 External Program during the
fall of 2009.
C-FAR Celebrates its 15th Anniversary
The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary during 2008. "We
are honored to commemorate C-FAR's 15th anniversary with each
of our partners who have remained steadfast in their dedication
to C-FAR and its mission," said Alan Puzey, C-FAR chairman.
"This anniversary affords the distinct opportunity for
all of our partners to reflect on the profound impact our
cumulative efforts have had on research that is meaningful
and important to Illinois."
As C-FAR marks its 15th anniversary, it salutes its many partners
and members - the State of Illinois; some 60 statewide food
and agricultural professional organizations; 40 state, university
and other research-related entities; and a myriad of individuals
who personally pledge their support. C-FAR members annually
volunteer thousands of hours identifying the highest-priority
research needs of the state. "C-FAR, and Illinois, is
very fortunate to have such a dedicated cadre of professionals
engaged in our state's publicly-funded research programs,"
shares C-FAR Membership Chair Jim Charlesworth. "The
result has undeniably elevated Illinois' food and agricultural
sectors and we proudly celebrate our 15th anniversary with
deep appreciation to everyone engaged in our high public calling."
Dr. Donald Holt, former director of the Illinois Agricultural
Experiment Station and nationally respected public research
leaders, says "In over 45 years at two major research
institutions, I never saw a program have such a transforming,
positive effect on research productivity, program relevance,
stakeholder participation, and practical agricultural
technology that C-FAR has had. The C-FAR legislation triggered
the most important change in the institutional structure
of Illinois agriculture since the federal Hatch Act of
1887, which created the state agricultural experiment
stations."
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