In rural India, having a son is a strong social expectation that puts pressure on women to bear male children. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examines how a firstborn son affects the well-being of childbearing women and their mothers-in-law, as well as the broader implications for household dynamics and economic outcomes.

Building on its longstanding commitment to global partnerships, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) hosted several delegations and visitors from around the world this summer. 

The great rivers of the world function not only as physical landscapes, but also as complex systems shaped by human intervention, warfare, and climate change as explored in a series of books by emeritus soil scientist and environmental researcher Kennenth R. Olson. 

Known as the "rice bowl" due to its lush and fertile growing areas, the Mekong Delta region in southwest Vietnam is a cornerstone of the country’s food security and economy. As part of a collaboration with The Mekong Delta Development Research Institute at Can Tho University, a team from the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) helped organize and facilitate training for new extension workers and students on how to measure and reduce postharvest losses to maximize product in the rice value chain. 

International exchange was a foundational experience for Ron and Melanie Warfield, and now, the couple hopes to help students follow in their footsteps. Through a $1 million gift to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the couple has created the Ron and Melanie Warfield Global Scholars and Experiential Learning Innovation Fund.

Students, faculty, and other stakeholders from the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) gathered in April to strengthen the college’s focus on interdisciplinary work towards global food security. 

Paul E. McNamara, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, and Mia Bonds, an undergraduate student in ACE, are winners of 2026 International Achievement Awards from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois International. These awards recognize outstanding alumni, faculty, and students whose exceptional work, service, and/or scholarship has made a significant, global impact. 

Paul E. McNamara

Hydrological models represent water movement in natural systems, and they are important for water resource planning and management. But the models depend on reliable input data for weather factors, and precipitation can be very difficult to measure and represent accurately.

A new study from an international research team describes a novel method to better represent precipitation uncertainty in hydrological models, thereby improving their performance. 

A transatlantic collaboration, the U.S.-German Forum on the Future of Agriculture, led by Germany’s Aspen Institute together with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has entered its fourth year to focus on the health and wellbeing of the swine and poultry industries in the context of a more sustainable agricultural future.