This program will fund projects in three thematic areas: Food and Health; Water; Energy. The overarching goal is to contribute towards solving problems related to Poverty, the Environment, and Sustainable well-being. Transdisciplinary approaches will be particularly welcome.
Illinois study: Extreme heat impacts dairy production, small farms most vulnerable
Livestock agriculture is bearing the cost of extreme weather events. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how heat stress affects U.S. dairy production, finding that high heat and humidity lead to a 1% decline in annual milk yield.
UI System/UNAM Joint Research Partnership Program for 2025-2026
Maternal depression can lead to children’s emotional overeating, study shows
Up to 25% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression, which can significantly impact their parenting behavior and the wellbeing of their children.
‘Sustainable intensification’ on the farm reduces soil nitrate losses, maintains crop yields
A nine-year study comparing a typical two-year corn and soybean rotation with a more intensive three-year rotation involving corn, cereal rye, soybean and winter wheat found that the three-year system can dramatically reduce nitrogen — an important crop nutrient — in farm runoff without compromising yield.
The new findings are detailed in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.
Empowering over 600 farmers in Sierra Leone through service learning

Through my studies at the University of Illinois, I have developed a close affinity to Sierra Leone. In no way am I a Sierra Leonean, but I am a friend.
International sabbaticals benefit faculty and college
An international sabbatical promotes professional and personal development and can increase an individual’s value to the university, as demonstrated by several College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) faculty who have pursued such opportunities to study and conduct research in a foreign country.