Resolution in Support of Agriculture Research Charities

Whereas, federal spending on agricultural research has already recently been trending downward, and further needed spending reform is likely to result in further cuts,

Whereas, agriculture will be called upon to feed a world population approaching 9.3 billion by 2050, despite shrinking land and water resources, concerns regarding fertilizer, pesticides and other productivity inputs, and increasing demand for protein, oil and other natural resources.

Whereas, modern U.S. agriculture is feeding and clothing the world; providing a safe, economical food supply; reducing the U.S. trade deficit; and employing more than 800,000 people domestically,

Whereas, research will be required to develop new technologies and uncover new efficiencies to meet growing demand and production requirements and private wealth should be allowed to complement traditional public funding for agricultural research,

Whereas, the proven example of medical research organizations (MROs), which were created within the U.S. Tax Code in the mid-1950s, has allowed approximately 300 MROs, using private wealth, to expend hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the conduct of public, human medical research, complementing the dollars contributed by the federal government and helping to reduce federal spending,

Be it resolved, that ALEC supports the concept of creating a new type of 501(c)(3) charitable organization, agricultural research organizations, focused on the conduct of agricultural research in conjunction with the nation’s land-grant universities and non-land-grant colleges of agriculture.

Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force on May 3, 2013.

Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on August 5, 2013.