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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2003
Contact:
Linda McCandless, 315-787-2417
Grape
Genetics Research Center in line for $2.7 million in funding
GENEVA, NY: Rep. Sherwood Boehlert
(R-New Hartford) announced $2.7 million in funding for the USDA-ARS
Grape Genetics Research Center at a press conference at the New
York State Agricultural Experiment Station today. The funding would
be used to design and build a new federal research facility for
USDA scientists to work with Cornell University researchers in
establishing and coordinating a national, concentrated grape program
that maximizes the impact of grape research.
“These funds will establish the USDA-ARS Grape Genetics Center as the anchor
tenant
in the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park at Geneva,” said James
E. Hunter, director of the Experiment Station. “Having this facility located
at the park will result in the construction of the park’s second building
and pave the way for further development.”
Hunter praised Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert, James Walsh, Maurice Hinchey,
and State Senator Mike Nozzolio as key members of the New York delegation who
were instrumental in making this
award
possible. “I congratulate them for their vision that investments
in science and technology are important drivers of the upstate New York economy,” said
Hunter.
“The tremendous opportunity I’ve been given to serve this district
for the last 21 years also provides New York State the seniority in Washington
needed
to bring this funding home,” Boehlert said. “I’m proud of the
efforts Cornell has put forward to improve the agriculture industry. This funding
will go a long way toward energizing the grape industry here in New York which
will reap immeasurable benefits for our local grape growers.”
The funding was part of Fiscal Year 2004 Omnibus Appropriations spending bill
passed by the House of Representatives on Monday, Dec. 8. In addition to the
$2.7 million in funding for the Cornell Grape Genetics Research Center, the bill
included $3.55 million in funding for other area projects. The Senate is expected
to pass the bill early next year.
The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park is a research park for innovation
and enterprise in the Finger Lakes devoted to food, agriculture and bio-based
technologies. It is located on a 74-acre orchard adjacent to the New York State
Agricultural Experiment Station. Groundbreaking for the first building—a
20,000 sq. ft. incubator building— is slated for spring 2004. Expected
in the future are additional build-to-suit facilities like the Grape Genetics
Research Center, a multi-tenant research facility, and greenhouse. The completed
project could take 15 years for full build-out and could result in as many as
1000 new high-tech jobs.
Prospective tenants in the park, from government research labs to private businesses,
will benefit from the research and development expertise at Cornell University
and the Experiment Station.
The Grape Genetics Research Center will expand the activities of scientists at
the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) currently located at the Experiment
Station, who collaborate with the more than 20 researchers at Cornell conducting
research in grape breeding, cultivation, crop protection and enology (wine science).
The PGRU was formed in 1986, and has national responsibility for certain vegetable
crops, as well as apple, tart cherry, and cold-hardy grape. The PGRU is mandated
to acquire, maintain, characterize, evaluate, document, and distribute the genetic
resources of crops. <http://www.ars-grin.gov/gen/>
The Experiment Station was founded in 1882. Its mission is to advance a sustainable
plant agriculture and food system through state-of-the art research and extension
programs that address local and worldwide needs. Geneva supports New York’s
agriculture and food industries with research, extension and education programs. <http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu>
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