Ag 2005: The WSU Agenda for Catapulting
Agriculture to the Next Level
Olympia Update No.
1 for the 2005 Legislative Session
October 19, 2004
From: Larry Ganders,
Assistant to the President
925 Plum St. SE - Building 4, P.O. Box 43165, Olympia, WA 98504-3165
This Olympia Update reflects
relevant portions of the WSU budget request to the agriculture industry. For a
comprehensive summary of the WSU budget requests, go to
WSU budget briefing papers.
For
a printer-friendly version of this document, Click Here
A $57.1 million
Biotechnology Life Sciences Building in Pullman, a new partnership with Pacific
Northwest Laboratories to add value to Washington commodities, and a UW-WSU
operating budget request that builds and protects core land grant programs are
highlights of Washington State University’s 2005-2007 legislative agenda to
impact agriculture.The university has a new request in
combination with the University of Washington that seeks a new infusion of
support for research, above and beyond anything that we have had in the past.
WSU is seeking statewide support for this unusual request by focusing on
facilities and programs that support basic research and facilities that benefit
all agriculture and lift the state's economy. While agriculture represents only
part of the university legislative agenda, programs that benefit the industry
nevertheless are woven throughout the plan to revitalize the state economy.
New funding and policies sought in this request
represents the most ambitious and innovative improvements for agricultural
research and extension programs since the “Green Revolution.” The agenda is
indeed intended to spur a new revolution, based on biotechnology. In addition,
the two research universities call for an end to the practice of cutting
existing budgets to increase student enrollments, a consistent legislative
maneuver that has particularly harmed state-funded agricultural research and
extension over the past decade.
The Biennial Operating
Budget: Cougars and Huskies Join Together. In an unprecedented move, Washington State
University and the University of Washington have joined to submit a single
cooperative legislative biennial operating budget request. The document,
sporting a purple and crimson cover, addresses huge challenges at both
institutions that have long been ignored by the state. Here are some components
of the request:
- The UW-WSU Core
Funding Request addresses $8.5 million in deficiencies in WSU research
and extension alone. It seeks to continue expanding opportunities for
resident students in veterinary medicine, buy more state-of the-art research
equipment, improve uncompetitive faculty salaries, and maintain state
facilities. It seeks to finally end the years of declining funding spent by
the state on each student, which has consistently stressed agricultural
research and extension budgets. Real state funding per student has
dropped 18 percent since 1993. The WSU portion of the request is $50
million.
- The UW-WSU Research and Technology Transfer
Request. This joint university proposal for state research promoting
economic and human health would bring more than $7 million to WSU
alone. Emphasis at both institutions would be on genomics, health-related
bio-products, infectious diseases and pests, and healthy, sustainable food
systems. WSU’s work will particularly explore how plants can now be used as
factories to produce medically-important proteins for treatment of a
wide array of genetic, chronic and previously untreatable diseases.
Investments will also facilitate the development of a growing "organic" food
industry in the state. There are also requests for a joint UW-WSU Policy
Consensus Center which could deal with dispute resolution in critical areas
like water and pesticide issues.
The Capital Construction
Budget: $504 million in buildings, including Biotechnology and Bioproducts
facilities, recommended by all six of the public, four-year institutions. The
capital budget recommendations this year are the result of priorities submitted
by WSU, UW, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University,
Western Washington University and The Evergreen State College, complying with
the requirements of 2004 House Bill 2151. Two of three major projects for WSU on
the list are critical for the agricultural industry (a nursing building is also
proposed for WSU Spokane):
- The $57.1 million
Biotechnology Life Sciences Building
will provide space for the Center for Integrated Biotechnology. Part of the
complex of new buildings that will replace Johnson Hall, the new building will
include programs in basic and applied molecular/cellular biological research in
bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, bioengineering, cellular and molecular
processes. Design work is completed. The building is ready for construction.
- The Battelle-WSU
Proposal for a BioProducts Building.
WSU seeks $13.1 million in state funds that
will match with federal funding to complete a $26.4 million, 57,000 square
foot building for a bioproducts laboratory and instruction at WSU
Tri-Cities. The facility will provide critical space to develop and
demonstrate the conversion of agricultural products and byproducts into
value-added consumer products.
Initiative 884 and other funding sources
Legislators and citizens are considering ideas that could provide funding for
these proposals. WSU takes no position on voter initiatives. If the voters pass
Initiative 884, the measure will generate $24 million per year in new funding
for WSU research. More funds could be available to the university through
competitive grants provided by the initiative. A legislative request known as
"Bio 21," referenced in Gov. Gary Locke's State of the State Address, could also
provide funding.
For more information,
contact WSU.
