Section 297. Food and agriculture industry development; program created

1.
  Creation. There is hereby created  within  the  department  a  food  and
  agriculture industry development program.
    2.   Purpose.  The  purpose  of  the  food  and  agriculture  industry
  development  program  shall  be  to  share  the  cost  of   implementing
  innovative  and  low  risk  approaches  to  the  research,  development,
  production, processing and distribution  of  agricultural  products  and
  quality  foods  that  capitalize  on  the  state's  unique resources and
  strategic  location  near  significant  markets.  With  an  emphasis  on
  programmatic  results,  such program shall be designed to favor projects
  which will have an economic benefit to  the  state's  economy  and  food
  supply  in  the  near  term,  and  which  will have a lasting effect and
  long-term economic value to business development and job creation.
    3. Powers of the commissioner. The commissioner is  hereby  authorized
  to  issue  requests  for proposals to implement the food and agriculture
  industry development program; to award project grants within the  limits
  of  any  appropriations  therefor,  provided that grant recipients match
  awards with at least equal amounts of funds in the form of cash, in-kind
  services or other resources; and to contract for services with  eligible
  applicants to carry out such program.
    4.  Eligible  projects.  Projects  involving  new product development;
  alternative   production,   processing,   distribution   and   marketing
  technologies;  introduction  of  high  technologies;  or  organizational
  methods that further development of the food and agriculture industry in
  the state shall be eligible for grant awards pursuant to  the  food  and
  agriculture   industry  development  program.  Also  eligible  shall  be
  projects  involving  farm  woodland  or  fresh  water  aquatic  products
  produced  in  either  natural  or man-made water bodies or in natural or
  man-made controlled structures.  Projects  that  include  public-private
  partnership  investments,  and  with  a  strong  potential for near-term
  commercial application and long-term economic value  to  the  state  and
  localities, shall be given priority.
    5. Targeted projects. The commissioner may set-aside up to twenty-five
  percent  of  any  moneys  appropriated  for the purposes of the food and
  agriculture industry  development  program  for  projects  that  exhibit
  special  regional  or  state-wide  significance for food and agriculture
  industry development and that meet the project eligibility  requirements
  established pursuant to this article.
    6. Eligible applicants. Public and private agencies and organizations,
  business  and  industry, educational institutions, local governments and
  individuals shall be eligible to submit proposals for  funding  pursuant
  to this article.
    7.  Grant awards. Project grants for contractual services that further
  development of the state's food and agriculture industry as described in
  this article shall be awarded on a competitive basis through  a  request
  for  proposal  process.  Such  grants  shall  be  awarded for worthwhile
  projects throughout the state, to the extent practicable, so that  broad
  geographic  representation  is  achieved.  At least one solicitation for
  project proposals shall  be  held  within  each  fiscal  year  in  which
  appropriations   are   made   for  the  food  and  agriculture  industry
  development program. Grant awards for an individual  project  shall  not
  exceed sixty thousand dollars within a single state fiscal year.
    8.  Request  for  proposal  guidelines.  The  commissioner  shall,  in
  consultation with the advisory council on agriculture, develop rules and
  regulations for proposal submission pursuant to this article,  including
  but  not  limited to: project eligibility and selection process; project
  proposal format; eligible costs; project implementation; and reporting.

    9. Advice of advisory council on agriculture. The  commissioner  shall
  seek   the  recommendations  and  advice  of  the  advisory  council  on
  agriculture regarding the development and promulgation  of  the  request
  for  proposal  rules  and  regulations  and  the  submission of biennial
  reports for the food and agriculture industry development program.
    10.  Technology  transfer.  The commissioner, in consultation with the
  empire state development corporation, the Cornell cooperative  extension
  service  and  food and agriculture industry representatives, shall share
  technological  innovations  developed  as  a  result  of  the  food  and
  agriculture  industry  development program with the food and agriculture
  industry.
    11. Preparation and distribution of reports.  The  commissioner  shall
  submit  a biennial report to the governor and legislature describing the
  progress of the food and agriculture industry development  program.  The
  first  report  shall  be  submitted  on  or  before September first, two
  thousand one.