ACES student discovers professional purpose at crop sciences conference

A few months ago, Greta Hall traveled from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to South Dakota State University and found herself listening to a lecture about SDSU’s invention of cookies and cream ice cream.

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Khanna co-authors recommendations for land use planning

A new publication of policy recommendations for land use, energy, and agriculture has been released as part of the U.S.-German Forum on the Future of Agriculture, led by the Aspen Institute Germany together with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

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Paper: Decarbonize agriculture by expanding policies aimed at low-carbon biofuels

A team of agricultural economists, environmental scientists and policy experts envisions a path toward a carbon-neutral agricultural future by expanding the reach of policies designed to promote low-carbon biofuels for transportation and aviation. In a new paper in the journal Science, the researchers propose policies that would reward farmers for adopting “climate-smart” practices when growing biofuel crops and remove the hurdles that currently thwart such efforts.

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Bioreactors reduce phosphorus from agricultural drainage water, Illinois study shows

Tile drainage is a common practice used in agricultural fields to remove excess water, but it also transports harmful nutrients into water bodies, contributing to algal blooms that deprive aquatic life of oxygen. Woodchip bioreactors are an efficient way to reduce nitrogen pollution by treating the water as it exits the field. However, these denitrifying bioreactors may leach phosphorus from the woodchips into the environment.

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Mouse study reveals gut microbe balance may be key factor in early-onset colorectal cancer

With colorectal cancer on the rise in people under 50, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are looking at the colon’s tiniest inhabitants to reveal causes and potential treatments.

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Genomic techniques can streamline breeding for grain quality

Small grains researcher Juan David Arbelaez-Velez knows the secret to making perfect rice — and it’s not about how you cook it. Arbelaez and his team are investigating the genetic blueprint that determines different grain attributes such as appearance, cooking time, and texture.

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Simple design changes can make bat boxes safer

Imagine moving into a new house just to discover it has no insulation. That’s what life can be like for a bat box resident.

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