California State University, Fresno, three other CSU campuses (San Luis Obispo, Pomona and Chico) and the CSU's numerous research partners are celebrating the inclusion of $693,000 for the Agricultural Research Initiative (ARI) in federal appropriations for 2010.

The ARI focuses on new and promising technologies that have the potential for improving food safety, environmental stewardship, economic performance and long-term sustainability of California's agriculture industry. The initiative also helps to foster and build upon university-industry partnerships while increasing the reach of publicly funded research.

The funding approved by Congress last week represents part of a sustained commitment to ARI by the federal government, which has awarded the program nearly $3 million over the past five years.  The steady level of support enhances state and industry investments in ARI, and indicates the importance of this field of study and the work of the initiative. The agricultural appropriations bill was sent to President Barack Obama and is expected to be signed.