C-FAR Connection - Spring 2006

              IN this ISSUE
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
Connection
Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring 2006
C FAR
Illinois Council on Food and
Agricultural Research
(C-FAR) members representing a
broad range of Illinois’ food and
agricultural sectors came together
for several meetings from January
to March to identify the state’s top
priority research needs. From the
development of new technologies
for crop and livestock production,
to investigating renewable energy
sources from agricultural inputs,
to establishing food safety and
security programs, to protecting
the state’s water supplies and other
natural resources, stakeholders
from across Illinois shared their
expertise and experiences to
identify the key research needs of
the state.
“We can be highly appreciative
that Illinois’ food and agricultural
private sector is so dedicated to
our state’s publicly-funded research
programs. Having the benefit
of these firsthand professional
experiences enhances the value and
strength of the C-FAR research
priorities,” said Karen Little,
C-FAR research vice chair.
At their all-working group
meeting in January, C-FAR’s
five working groups—focused on
expanding agricultural markets,
rural economic development,
agricultural production systems,
human nutrition and food
safety, and natural resources
and environment—reestablished
their directives to researchers to
provide clear priorities on research
needed to strengthen Illinois’
food, agricultural, and related
systems. During the meeting, the
expanding agricultural markets
and rural economic development
working groups met jointly to
discuss their research priorities
and avoid possible areas of overlap.
The natural resources working
group expanded the name of their
research focus area to “natural
resources and environment,” to
more accurately ref lect the scope
of their priorities.
C-FAR Members Identify Research Priorities for Illinois
Priceless: Firsthand Insights.............................................. 2
2006 Annual Meeting......................................................... 3
Swine Manure to Oil Processing Research....................... 4
Milk Products Enhanced.................................................... 5
FY06 Sentinel Program...................................................... 6
Websites to Watch.............................................................. 7 Continued on page 3
Left to right: C-FAR members Patricia Lawfer, Pat Dumoulin, and Tom Roth asist in identifying Ilinois’
food and agricultural researc h priorities at an al-working group meting in January .