Urban agriculture has the potential to improve food security through local, efficient, and sustainable food production. Examples of urban food systems include hydroponics, where plants grow in a nutrient solution without soil, and aquaponics, which combines hydroponics with raising fish in tanks.

By giving artificial intelligence simple associative learning rules based on the brain circuits that allow a sea slug to forage — and augmenting it with better episodic memory, like that of an octopus — scientists have built an AI that can navigate new environments, seek rewards, map landmarks and overcome obstacles.

When scientists look at the Earth’s available water for ecosystem services, they don’t just look at precipitation. They must also account for water moving from the ground to the atmosphere, a process known as evapotranspiration (ET). ET includes evaporation from soil and open water pools such as lakes, rivers, and ponds, as well as transpiration from plant leaves. The difference between precipitation and ET indicates the water balance available for societal needs, including agricultural and industrial production. However, measuring ET is challenging.

Sweet potatoes are a popular food choice for consumers worldwide because of their delicious taste and nutritious quality. The red, tuberous root vegetable can be processed into chips and fries, and it has a range of industrial applications, including textiles, biodegradable polymers, and biofuels.

Leaving behind a dangerous situation where more than 100 armed groups are fighting a separatist war, Eric Zama, an environmental scientist from Cameroon, continues his academic work in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) through the Illinois Scholars at Risk program.  

The conflict Zama left started in 2016 as a peaceful protest by English-speaking teachers and lawyers who were feeling marginalized. By 2018, armed groups escalated the situation, and now the government is fighting back.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign hosted over 50 students from six Big Ten universities for the 2024 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Midwest Regional Rally from March 21 - 23. 

Hosted annually at rotating locations, the ASABE Midwest Regional Rally is an opportunity for agricultural and biological engineering students from across the region to come together, network with industry professionals, learn about job opportunities in this space, and explore options for graduate school.  

Agricultural occupations are  hazardous with one of the highest rates of workplace injuries and fatalities in the U.S. The manual and often strenuous nature of the work, combined with the use of machinery and exposure to environmental hazards create a challenging work environment. Understanding the nature and causes of injuries can help improve safety guidelines and policy measures. However, obtaining a comprehensive overview of injuries is hindered by the absence of a central reporting system.

A 31-partner consortium seeks $70 million from EDA to help create jobs, expand commodity markets, and drive zero-emission manufacturing efforts in Champaign, Piatt, and Macon Counties.