Tanzania field trial finds soil testing and subsidies can increase fertilizer use and maize yields
URBANA, Ill. – The right mineral fertilizers applied appropriately can alleviate nutrient deficiencies in soils and increase crop yields, but most small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have their soils tested to reveal these deficiencies.
New summer program offers ACES undergrads hands-on rice research in the Philippines
A new summer program will allow College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) undergraduates to spend six weeks in the Philippines conducting hands-on research in rice science at the International Rice Research Institute.
ACES hosts Indonesian delegation, plans future collaborations and exchanges
A distinguished delegation of Indonesian officials visited the University of Illinois campus in October to begin discussions towards future student exchanges and faculty research partnerships.
The delegation included representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment, Del Institute of Technology, Government of North Sumatra, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago.
Measuring financial and digital literacy in vulnerable populations
URBANA, Ill. – Financial inclusion is key to improving economic and social welfare, reducing inequality, and promoting economic growth. Globally, 1.7 billion people have limited access to financial services, especially in the developing world. As governments and NGOs work to strengthen financial resilience, digital technology has become a crucial component.
Fintech can promote financial inclusion in emerging economies
URBANA, Ill. – Financial technologies – fintech – are rapidly expanding and providing easier access to financial services worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the need for contactless transactions.
A new study from the University of Illinois evaluates fintech systems in 16 emerging markets. The researchers conclude digital technologies overall provide greater access to financial services, but some barriers to usage remain for vulnerable populations.
ACES alums celebrate impactful international internship program
Dozens of ACES alumni returned to the University of Illinois campus in September to celebrate the impacts of an international internship experience and reconnect with a mentor, professor emeritus Lowell Hill.
For over two decades, agricultural economics students under Hill’s supervision covered the globe to shed light on practices and standards in international grain trade.
Water service fees can help pay for ecosystem preservation in Mexico
URBANA, Ill – The world’s ecosystems quietly keep human beings alive, and we largely do not notice their impacts until they are gone. Take forests, for example, whose services are valued at $4.7 trillion each year. Trees capture and filter water running through the landscape, which maintains aquatic habitat and improves water supplies for drinking and recreation.
Soybean Innovation Lab awarded $5 million to train Feed the Future Innovation Lab leaders
URBANA, Ill. – The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Soybean Value Chain Research (Soybean Innovation Lab, “SIL”) at the University of Illinois has been awarded $5 million by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to train and empower other Feed the Future Innovation Labs to achieve sustained impact from their innovations.
Can sustainability standards effectively mitigate food system challenges?
URBANA, Ill. – While agrifood production is essential for feeding our growing global population, it can also contribute to environmental and social problems, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, poor or precarious labor conditions, and persistent poverty. Certification and standards can encourage use of sustainable production practices, but how effective are such programs in addressing food system challenges?
ACES students help create fertilizer app for Tanzanian farmers
URBANA, Ill. – Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa use fertilizer well below recommended rates for optimal productivity. One reason is lack of trust in the products available from local agri-dealers, says Hope Michelson, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) at University of Illinois.