[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNITION OF THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED FOOD TECHNOLOGY

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 17, 1995

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Center 
for Advanced Food Technology [CAFT] at Rutgers, the State University of 
New Jersey, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.
  CAFT was established by our fine State in 1985. My colleagues and I 
in the State Senate established CAFT and the other New Jersey Advanced 
Technology Centers to be administered under the auspices of the State's 
Commission on Science and Technology to link our State's high 
technology industries with some of Rutgers University's most prominent 
departments so as to enhance the State's economy. The resulting impacts 
are something of which I am particularly proud.
  Over its 10-year history, the center's unique multidisciplinary 
approach to research and technology transfer has resulted in the 
development of cutting edge scientific knowledge and technologies that 
address the product, process, and manufacturing needs of the food 
industry.
  As I am sure you know, the food industry is one of the major 
employers in our country. The food manufacturing sector is also one of 
the greatest contributors to our Nation's economy by adding value to 
our Nation's considerable agricultural commodities sector. By 
coordinating the research efforts of about 40 faculty members from 10 
university departments who are overseeing the research of over 130 
graduate and undergraduate students and post doctoral associates, CAFT 
is supporting the research needs of this important manufacturing 
sector.
  CAFT's past achievements are many. Through its development of new 
equipment and manufacturing technologies for military rations, the 
Defense Logistics Agency is now better prepared to provide a variety of 
high quality foods to support the morale of our service men and women. 
By performing research aimed at understanding and enhancing food 
quality, these rations will continue to improve.
  The facilities and equipment used for the military ration studies 
have been used on a cost recovery basis to assist smaller food 
companies and entrepreneurs to develop new businesses and to develop 
new or improve existing products and manufacturing operations. This 
type of activity is necessary to keep the food industry healthy and to 
enhance the viability of smaller companies which are the lifeblood of 
the manufacturing sector.
  CAFT has also worked with food, pharmaceutical, and chemical 
companies which have needed highly sophisticated research analysis 
performed. Several of these companies have been able to bring new 
products to market partially because of CAFT's expert assistance.
  Underlying all these efforts are the fundamental research studies 
through which CAFT has developed its well deserved international 
recognition. Companies worldwide have benefited from the cutting edge 
knowledge CAFT has developed. Of this, the center is understandably 
proud.
  I am very pleased to let the people of this Nation know about the 
unique and wonderful research capabilities, such as those at CAFT, that 
have been established in New Jersey. These centers can serve as models 
of how industry, universities, and government can work together to make 
our Nation stronger.

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