An upcoming symposium hosted by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) will further the University of Illinois’ interdisciplinary work towards food security.

Update: The impact of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) continues to create uncertainty and concern both globally and across our communities. In this rapidly changing situation, the 2020 IFSI Symposium: “Comparative Extension Models: Perspectives from the Field” at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on March 31-April 1 has been postponed to a date to be determined.

Six years ago, the College of ACES established International Food Security at Illinois (IFSI) to maximize the capacity of the University of Illinois to address international food security. IFSI serves as a hub to coordinate cooperation among the major programs at Illinois and all faculty and staff who work towards this common goal.  

Annually, IFSI hosts a symposium around a specific topic related to food security with a co-hosting partner. This year’s event, set for March 31 to April 1, is themed “Comparative Extension Models: Perspectives from the Field” and is co-sponsored by University of Illinois Extension.

“This year’s symposium will emphasize the experience of extension and public engagement practitioners from around the world who are working to enhance food systems and food and nutritional outcomes. The symposium has been organized to promote learning from international comparisons that might allow us all to have greater impact” says Alex Winter-Nelson, associate dean for international programs in the College of ACES.

The symposium will showcase work using diverse strategies in a range of contexts, so that attendees may leave with new connections, ideas, and tools to move forward in making a difference towards food security around the world.

This year’s keynote lectures include:  

• “Effective Extension Strategies” by Steven Worth, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• “Perspectives on Community Development” by Anne Silvis, University of Illinois Extension

Additional sessions include:

• Developing Collaborative Networks
• Delivering Impactful Programming in the Digital Age
• 4-H and Youth Programs
• Effective Extension Learning Strategies

All lectures, sessions, and related events will take place at the College of ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin, Urbana. To maximize reach to those unable to attend in person, the event will be live streamed at: go.illinois.edu/live.

Download the full program.

Core IFSI programs include: Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL), ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss, AgReach, and RIPE. Additionally, IFSI launched the Big Data, Food Security and the Environment Initiative in 2016.