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Committee approves $3.1 million recurring request to expand UTIA precision agriculture work
Summary
The finance committee approved a recurring $3.1 million operating appropriations request to expand precision‑agriculture research, workforce development and technology transfer at the Institute of Agriculture; trustees authorized system officers to negotiate the final configuration with the state.
Trustees approved a recurring $3,100,000 operating appropriations request to expand a precision agriculture initiative at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), system staff said on Oct. 23.
"The request you have before you is we're recommending $3,100,000 recurring to fund this new expanded initiative for the Institute of Agriculture," Austin Oaks summarized. He said the request funds research on efficient farming, technology adoption, and workforce development, and that President Boyd, UTIA and UT Knoxville collaborated on the submission to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
Senior vice chancellor Keith Carver told the committee the request was refined after last year's submission; the proposal was not funded previously but was modified to align with state priorities. Carver said the UTIA expansion would hire recurring staff and provide applied research and training to help producers and the state's agricultural economy.
A trustee moved and a second was given; the chair called the vote and the motion carried.
Ending: The resolution authorizes system staff (Randy and the presenters named in materials) to negotiate the exact amount and configuration of the request with the state and Tennessee Higher Education Commission as the appropriation process continues.
