A team of undergraduate students from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, competed at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) 2024 Venture Building Challenge on Nov. 14–15. Competing against 21 other teams of undergraduate students, graduate students, and early-career professionals from around the globe, the ACE team advanced to the final rounds and emerged as the top-scoring undergraduate team, placing third place overall in the online competition.

The team members — Dylan Kissner, Hermes Lin, Laney Toffler, and Luke Gordon — were tasked with analyzing a complex case study focused on smallholder farming and developing creative, practical solutions within just four hours. Teams presented their recommendations to a panel of judges, showcasing their critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills on a global stage.

Their achievement highlights the exceptional hands-on educational experiences available to ACES students and underscores the value of international engagement in preparing students for real-world challenges.

“This competition provides a tremendous experiential learning opportunity for our students,” said the team’s advisor Meredith Blumthal, director and instructor of the Food and Agribusiness Management Program in ACE. “Participating in a global event like this allows students to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world contexts, gain international perspectives, and develop the skills they’ll need to succeed as leaders in agribusiness.”

The team gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in smallholder farming during a preparatory session held at the University of Illinois Research Park by Bayer Crop Science’s Head of Innovation Center Blake Giles and Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager Ruth Mbabazi. 

“With approximately 97% of the world’s farmers farming on less than 25 acres of land, and many of those owning 5 acres or less, we at Bayer know that empowering smallholder farmers is crucial for food security,” said Giles. “We’re also committed to the training and development of the next generation of modern agriculture, so when Meredith and these passionate students reached out, volunteering our time to coach and share real world examples prior to their competition, was both rewarding and a lot of fun!”

Looking ahead, ACE students are eager to compete again, with their sights set on the in-person IFAMA competition in Brazil in June 2025