The Chairman of the Plant Biotechnology Advisory Council agrees with Governor Blunt that communication between state legislators and scientists is key to getting the Lewis and Clark Initiative off the ground. Governor Blunt is exploring the idea of a special session to get agreements on the Initiative finalized. Founding President Dr. Beachy with the Danforth Plant Science Center says he’s simply encouraging the state to invest in the college construction plan, which he says would foster research in education, science, animal health, agriculture and biotechnology. Beachy says the sale of $350,000,000 of Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority assets – which Blunt is considering to have legislators finalize in the possible special session – provides options for investing in what he calls vital research for the state. He says the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative is integral to the state’s identity as a leader agricultural innovation. Beachy adds many research facilities throughout the state are old and outdated and simply need to be replaced.