On Saturday, July 19, alumni, families, supporters, and current and former staff gathered on the grounds of 4-H Memorial Camp, which is located within Allerton Park but independently owned and operated by Illinois 4-H, to commemorate the camp’s 75th anniversary. Since opening its doors in 1950, 4-H Memorial Camp has shaped the lives of thousands of youth through hands-on learning and connection to the natural world.

In late July, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign announced it will end a successful Illinois Extension-led program impacting food security and health for 1 million residents annually, affecting nearly 2,000 statewide partnerships, and cutting over 200 jobs — more than one-quarter of Illinois Extension’s workforce.

A scientist in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the recipient of the 2025 national agInnovation award for Excellence in Agricultural Research Innovation. 

In a groundbreaking new project, scientists used precision fermentation to produce brewed chicken protein and evaluated it for use in pet food. Dogs that consumed the protein in their kibble during a six-month study had beneficial digestive effects, the researchers found.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended life for individuals and communities worldwide. Social isolation, health mandates, illness, and economic hardships took a toll on the well-being of families and children, but there were also silver linings to people’s experiences. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at impacts of the pandemic among youth and parents across the U.S. Midwest.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and World Business Chicago announced the return of the Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Food, the city's flagship food innovation and venture capital convening, which will take place on Oct. 14, 2025. Now in its fourteenth year, this two-day experience continues to elevate Chicagoland's position as a national hub for food tech, ag innovation, and entrepreneurial investment.

Agronomy Days at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues on with events scheduled into September, providing farmers, academics, and locals with a season-long series providing opportunities to discover the latest agronomic breakthroughs.

Each fall, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign welcomes thousands of students to campus.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have analyzed 96 years of forest census data to better understand ecological changes and inform management practices. Their study, published in Forest Ecology and Management, reveals concerning homogenization trends. This means the forest has become less diverse over time, losing trees that played a critical role in its ecosystem.

Renowned animal behaviorist and autism advocate Temple Grandin has been selected to receive a 2025 University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon alumni by the University of Illinois Alumni Association. Grandin earned a doctoral degree in animal sciences from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1989.