The partnership was developed from the common interest these organisations have in relation to swine nutrition and the use of distillers grains and other biofuel co-products (DDGS).

The Nutritional Efficiency Consortium sets research priorities and recommends funding for research projects that study ways to reduce feed costs and maximize production efficiencies. The consortium’s 2008 budget is $500,000. Also, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board has dedicated up to $500,000 of its 2008 budget to research that will further develop and improve distillers grains for the pork and livestock industry.

"It’s exciting to have Illinois corn growers, through their checkoff support, collaborate with us on this important program," said Mark Boggess, director of animal sciences for the Pork Checkoff. "In the long run, we our organizations have similar goals and we are both much better off by teaming up".

He said that the consortium has devoted a lot of time and effort to ensuring that research priorities are relevant to the industry and that research project outcomes are applicable and not duplicative of someone else’s efforts. "The bottom line is that corn growers will benefit by understanding how they can make their product and byproducts better for pork producers, and pork producers will benefit by understanding how they can use co-products more efficiently," he added.

Brian Sturtevant, a pork producer from Lanark, Illinois and president of the Illinois Pork Producers said that this was an opportunity for industry stakeholders to leverage combined funding for the good of everyone involved.

Ron Gray, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board chairman of Claremont agrees. "This partnership will ensure that industry priorities for both pork and corn are addressed proactively and we are eager to get started."

Currently, the consortium and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board are in the process of reviewing 2008 research proposals. Funding decisions will be made in early March.