A transatlantic collaboration, the U.S. German Forum on the Future of Agriculture, led by Germany’s Aspen Institute together with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is accepting applications for its third cohort to promote dialogue and policy recommendations towards a more sustainable future for the world. 

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Office of International Programs and the European Union Center help coordinate the program which includes bringing together stakeholders from both the U.S. and Germany, managing a year-long schedule of virtual and in-person meetings, and publishing a policy document.

The 2024 project focused on the digital transformation of the dairy industry and resulted in the publication "Recommendations for the Digital Transformation of Agriculture for the National Level and Transatlantic Cooperation” that was unveiled in conjunction with a closing event in Berlin, Germany, in September. 

Lauren Karplus, assistant director for ACES International Programs noted, “This project is another excellent example of our core value at Illinois to build a global community. Through the facilitation of this project we have seen firsthand the benefits of transatlantic exchange. We have seen connections being made, lifetime friendships formed, visits being planned to each other’s farms, and ultimately as the program intended, people with different perspectives working together to serve the greater good. We congratulate the 2024 cohort on their hard work and cooperation to produce a relevant policy recommendations document, and we look forward to facilitating the additional themes of this project.”   

Farmers and other key agricultural stakeholders living in the U.S. or Germany are invited to apply to be a part of this unique transatlantic dialogue during the third program year in 2025. In addition to the fundamental social, economic, and political importance of agriculture for rural regions, this third cohort will focus in particular on the core issue of land use conflicts between renewable energy and agriculture in rural areas.

ACES alumni and others are encouraged to apply!

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Oct. 15, 2024. Applicants for this exchange program must:

• be active farmers and/or work in agriculture-related business, research, etc.
• have at least 3 years of experience in the field of agriculture
• be able to actively participate in all components of the virtual and in-person exchange
• be able to participate in the development and publication of recommendations in the form of a publication and a final event
• have an interest in the intersection of land use, energy production, and agriculture
• have sufficient knowledge of English
• applicants must be living and working in Germany or the United States

Find out more information and apply.