The director may enter into an agreement with one or more organizations representing growers, shippers, manufacturers of agricultural commodities, nonprofit trade associations whose members market agricultural commodities, federal or state marketing order boards, and state commissions which are organized pursuant to this code, operate in California, and actively engage in the marketing of agricultural commodities, whereby research will be conducted by public or private agencies to determine methods, techniques, or criteria for agricultural commodities to qualify for entrance into foreign markets.
The agreement shall specify that the state will provide up to 50 percent of the funds necessary for the research and the other parties to the agreement will provide an amount equal to or greater than that provided by the state.
State funds shall be available for expenditure for the purposes of this section upon appropriation therefor in the Budget Act or other statute.