SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois’ Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) marked its 15th anniversary during the organization’s 2008 Meeting of the Membership, held recently in Springfield.

The group elected new members to its board of directors, presented its annual achievement award and recognized organizational, affiliate and individual members for their commitment to C-FAR’s many past, present and future research projects.

“C-FAR proudly recognizes its 15th anniversary with its membership being at the heart of the organization’s foundation,” said C-FAR Membership Chair Jim Charlesworth. “The commitment of this organization’s membership is truly phenomenal and is indicative of how important food and agricultural research is to Illinois.”

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of C-FAR’s 2008 Donald A. Holt Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding and innovative team research and outreach by a C-FAR-funded research team. The Illinois Center for Soy Foods, established in 2000 on the campus of the University of Illinois through funding from C-FAR, was selected for the award.

The center was recognized for its efforts to create and promote healthy, economical and appealing food products from soybeans and soy-based ingredients to further the Illinois soybean industry.
C-FAR membership also elected three individuals to serve on its 2008 board of directors – Chuck Cawley of Rochelle and Wally Furrow of El Paso were newly elected and Steve Scates of Shawneetown was reelected. The three join Charlesworth (Bloomington), Jerry Hicks (Springfield), Nels Kasey (Paris) and Karen Little (Pleasant Plains). Alan Puzey of Fairmount will continue as the board’s past-chairman.

The board later met and elected Kasey as chairman, Hicks as vice chair and Little as secretary/treasurer. Kasey will appoint committee chairs and members at a later date.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve C-FAR as its chairman,” Kasey said. “C-FAR’s calling is the most notable I have been associated with, and I look forward to this organization continuing to be Illinois’ catalyst for sound and forward-thinking research to propel our food, agriculture and related industries.”
Working groups gathered during the Meeting of the Membership to review final reports for research projects which had concluded or “matured” in the past year, assessed their current research portfolio and discussed ongoing projects and those under consideration.

C-FAR’s five working groups focus on research regarding expanding agricultural markets, rural economic development, agricultural production systems, food safety and human nutrition and natural resources and environment.

C-FAR’s mission is to advance profitable, consumer-sensitive, environmentally-sound food, agricultural and related systems by securing funding for relevant research and outreach and fostering public participation in program guidance.

Its current research portfolio is posted online at www.ilcfar.org/wnew/index.html#achievement