Throughout the resolutions of the 89th New Jersey Agriculture Convention, Cook College, NJAES, and RCE are called upon to provide the supporting research and education that contributes to agricultural viability, food safety and security, land use policies, equity preservation, water quality, agricultural market development, nutrition and health, human and community development, and environmental sustainability.

In collaboration with the USDA, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, other federal and state agencies, New Jersey Farm Bureau, commodity groups, counties, municipalities, schools, and community-based organizations, Cook College, NJAES and RCE fulfill the land grant mission to meet the needs of the underserved.

The strategic plans of Cook College and NJAES articulate the vision developed by the administration, faculty, staff, and stakeholders regarding the land grant mission. In addition, Cook College is obliged to provide funding and support to the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences (IMCS) and the Center for Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Environment (biotech), both of which are located at Cook College and are integral to the mission of Cook College and NJAES but do not have a direct administrative report to the Executive Dean. As a result of this lack of integration, the value provided by these centers to the residents of New Jersey is not being fully realized.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 89th State Agricultural Convention, assembled in Long Branch, New Jersey on February 4, 2004, reaffirm our support of these strategic plans and the efforts of the Cook College, NJAES, and RCE administration, faculty, and staff to continue to implement them.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we call upon the central administration of Rutgers University to support full implementation of these strategic plans to fulfill the land grant mission. We also stress that the successful candidate for the Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources must be cognizant of the land grant mission and fully support the principals and values embodied therein. We further support the immediate integration of IMCS and Biotech into Cook College and NJAES including direct reporting to the Executive Dean.