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TechnographAg research funds appropriated to University
By David Valdes
Posted: 11/10/05 Section: News
The U.S. House of Representatives granted more than $3.7 million dollars to the University for agriculture and food science research.
The funding is intended to aid four research initiatives: the Future Foods Initiative, the Illinois-Missouri Biotechnology Alliance, the Livestock Genome Sequencing and the Soybean Disease Biotechnology Center, according to U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, (R-Ill.) in an Oct. 31 press release.
Bob Easter, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, said the funding would help the University's research efforts.
"As a college, as we do our research, we are concerned with societal needs," Easter said. "We attempt to find ways to respond to those needs."
These needs include plant disease and producing soybeans for countries affected by HIV and AIDS, he said.
Easter said the process of obtaining funding requires approval by the University and state government.
"We develop proposals about how we may go about addressing these problems," he said.
The proposals are dealt with by the University and then by state legislators, who decide whether or not to grant funding. Of the four main research initiatives, the most recent is intended to help those in countries struggling with HIV and AIDS, Easter said.
"It's important that the person being treated has adequate nutrition and understanding of his nutritional needs," he said. "In this case, there's a significant need for soybeans."
Easter said he hopes to benefit those in need and produce fiscally successful results for the University.
"At the end of the day, we hope to return dollars to the citizens who invest in our research," he said.
Steve Pueppke, associate dean of research in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, said the funding opened doors for the University.
"We have some resources to do some research now, that we otherwise couldn't do," Pueppke said.
The funding is intended to aid four research initiatives: the Future Foods Initiative, the Illinois-Missouri Biotechnology Alliance, the Livestock Genome Sequencing and the Soybean Disease Biotechnology Center, according to U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, (R-Ill.) in an Oct. 31 press release.
Bob Easter, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, said the funding would help the University's research efforts.
"As a college, as we do our research, we are concerned with societal needs," Easter said. "We attempt to find ways to respond to those needs."
These needs include plant disease and producing soybeans for countries affected by HIV and AIDS, he said.
Easter said the process of obtaining funding requires approval by the University and state government.
"We develop proposals about how we may go about addressing these problems," he said.
The proposals are dealt with by the University and then by state legislators, who decide whether or not to grant funding. Of the four main research initiatives, the most recent is intended to help those in countries struggling with HIV and AIDS, Easter said.
"It's important that the person being treated has adequate nutrition and understanding of his nutritional needs," he said. "In this case, there's a significant need for soybeans."
Easter said he hopes to benefit those in need and produce fiscally successful results for the University.
"At the end of the day, we hope to return dollars to the citizens who invest in our research," he said.
Steve Pueppke, associate dean of research in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, said the funding opened doors for the University.
"We have some resources to do some research now, that we otherwise couldn't do," Pueppke said.
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