"Finding solutions to reduce emissions that are both effective and cost-effective and won't reduce the competitiveness of our swine industry in Illinois is obviously of critical importance to swine producers. It's also of importance to people who live near swine facilities," said Michael Ellis, an animal sciences professor at the university, who is leading the research.

The grant comes from an antitrust settlement reached in 2000 with several vitamin manufacturers accused of fixing prices, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said at a news conference on the university's Urbana campus.

Some of the vitamins included in the lawsuit were used for animal feed, so it is appropriate to use some of the settlement money to help solve animal industry problems, she said.

"As we have a growing number of hog farms and as we have a growing number of people living near those hog farms, there are some problems that arise," she said. "To the extent that we are able to protect the environment and protect individuals' quality of life all at the same time, this money is going to go toward funding that."

Source: Belleville News Democrat