In the agricultural and food industry, determining the chemical composition of raw materials is important for production efficiency, application, and price. Traditional laboratory testing is time-consuming, complicated, and expensive. New research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrates that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and machine learning can provide quick, accurate, and cost-effective product analysis.
This online graduate certificate is for early- to mid-career professionals who want to learn about the intricacies of US food regulations, nutritional policies, and the growing field of personalized nutrition.
This summer, the Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA) hosted the largest cohort of students yet in the four-year history of the CDA Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. In 2023, seven students interned in the 10-week program. This year, that number has tripled to 22 students.
Eleven students and five professors from Japan’s Kyushu University visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for two weeks during August to study the intersections of agriculture, the environment, and people in central Illinois.
As part of the robust program organized by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Offices of International Programs and Study Abroad and funded by Kyushu, the visitors participated in campus, farm, and industry tours, lectures, and cultural events.
To those first-year students, welcome to campus! And for those returning, welcome back!
As the fall semester approaches and I prepare to begin my fourth and final year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I’ve found myself reflecting on the very beginning of my college journey. It was the summer in between junior and senior years of high school, and I was the first of my siblings to go to college, so this whole process was very foreign to me and my family.
When giant ragweed takes hold in a crop field, the towering weed reduces yield and sends plumes of its famously allergy-inducing pollen into the air. There are few tools available to thwart the menace, especially for farmers growing non-GMO soybeans. Now, some Wisconsin farmers are left with even fewer options.
Researchers analyzed meteorological data from nine Upper Midwest states from 1979-2021, tracking trends in extreme heat and cold over every 4-kilometer square of that territory. They found striking regional differences in the extremes. Many parts of the Upper Midwest experienced significant upticks in the number of extreme heat days over the 40 years — an increasing trend — while others saw a rise in extreme cold events. Some communities experienced more of both extremes. Others appeared to be more resistant to changes in extreme heat or cold.
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is investing in University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research that could expedite the development of climate-resilient corn.
As the world faces the challenges of mitigating climate change and providing resources for a growing population, there is increasing focus on developing circular economies for sustainable production. But to evaluate strategies and impacts, it is necessary to have reliable metrics. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a Circularity Index that provides a comprehensive method to quantify circularity in bioeconomic systems.
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