CHAPTER 58 SENATE BILL No. 534* An Act establishing a center of excellence on sustainable agriculture and alternative crops
at Kansas state university. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. (a) There is hereby established at Kansas state university
the center of excellence on sustainable agriculture and alternative crops.

      (b) Functions and duties of the center of excellence on sustainable
agriculture and alternative crops shall include but not be limited to:

      (1) Emphasizing research, education, outreach and marketing for
sustainable agriculture and alternative food, fiber and medicinal crops.

      (2) Assisting farmers increase the farmers share of the food system
dollar.

      (3) Collecting and analyzing basic information on the Kansas food
system and opportunities for production and direct marketing.

      (4) Focusing research on value added processes and new crops that
offer low-volume, high margin niche opportunities.

      (5) Assisting small farmers to access lower input costs through a de-
livery system with expanded access to sustainable agricultural practices.

      (6) Marketing assistance to promote products produced and proc-
essed in Kansas.

      (7) Expanding small farm research to include:

      (A) Organic products;

      (B) less capital intensive investments;

      (C) energy saving technology; and

      (D) agricultural practices that reduce soil erosion and restore soil
health.

      (8) Developing and distributing a guide of all state services for small
farms and value added agriculture.

      (c) Subject to appropriations, officials at Kansas state university shall
appoint a coordinator for the center of excellence on sustainable agricul-
ture and alternative crops and fund operating expenses of such coordi-
nator.

      (d) A representative of Kansas state university center of excellence
on sustainable agriculture and alternative crops shall annually submit a
report to the chairpersons of the senate agriculture committee and the
house of representatives agriculture committee concerning the center's
research, funding and progress of programs.

  Sec.  2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

Approved April 5, 2000.
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