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GROWING JOBS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
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Since its founding in 1865, Cornell University's relationship with China has continued to thrive and grow. As early as 1870, Cornell offered Chinese language instruction as an undergraduate elective and the tradition of international cooperation officially began.
In the first half of the century, Cornell's student population included over 3,500 Chinese students which was twelve percent of all those who came to study in the United States. In fact, so many students from China came to Cornell because of its strong programs of agricultural research and teaching that the university became known in China as a cradle of modern agriculture.
During the 1920's and early 1930's the highly successful Crop Improvement Project, jointly sponsored by Cornell University and the University of Nanking, was established. The program worked to develop better strains of wheat, rice and soybeans and served as a model for later programs of international technical cooperation in agriculture, including those of the United Nations and the U.S. State Department.
In the 21st century, sustainable agriculture and development remains a dominant economic environmental and social issue for China and the United States.
Earlier this year I was joined by many esteemed individuals for an exciting discussion about emerging technologies being researched and developed at the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cornell Agricultural and Food Technology Park.
Local agri-business owners also spoke about the remarkable growth in productivity and profit they have experienced as a direct result of the Ag Tech Park's research.
The summit was a unique and exciting opportunity to hear about the tremendous impact and benefit -- to the Finger Lakes, to New York State, and to the global community -- created by the existence of the Experiment Station and the Ag Tech Park. Discussion focused on ways that State and local leaders, economic development officials, and private business developers can utilize the facilities, and the powerful partnerships created there, to attract high-paying research jobs to the Finger Lakes community.
The Partnership between Cornell University and China is playing an important role in the 21st century economy and producing the next generation of products and services. The key to the economic future of the Central Finger Lakes Region is the utilization of our great educational institutions to bring new products to the marketplace that will help create jobs.
Currently, Governor George Pataki is traveling throughout China and Japan in an effort to boost New York businesses and expand trade opportunities. It is my belief that past relations with the Chinese and Cornell University's active research in agricultural will be a driving force in bringing more jobs to the Finger Lakes region.
It is rewarding to see the Cornell Ag Tech Park positively and dramatically influence our local economy. I am especially proud to have played a major role in its establishment here in the Finger Lakes. A long-time leader in the agricultural and scientific research community, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station and its associated Ag Tech Park will soon be recognized as a significant motivating force in world-wide economics.
It has always been my belief that hard work and wise investment create opportunities for growth, but when these factors are combined with academic research from a respected and dynamic educational institution, the result is a powerful synergy with potential to change the world.
With Cornell's relationship with China and their continued commitment to agricultural studies, I am extremely excited to think that our rural, upstate community can be the birthplace for scientific research and agricultural technology that brings new-age thinking to the ancient art of farming. As a result, we could change the way we feed the world - and that change can begin here in New York State.
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