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When Steve Ericson walked into the Illinois State Fair as a young exhibitor in 1974, he couldn’t have imagined that one day he’d return, not to show livestock, but to help connect Illinois-grown food to families in need.

In a world where increasing demands for food security and energy strain existing resources, scientists are looking for new ways to maximize both. One potential option, agrivoltaics, integrates solar photovoltaics with crops. A new study examines the agricultural and economic trade-offs that come with installing solar arrays on working farms across the Midwest.

The soil microbiome is critical for the ecosystem, and agricultural practices that promote microbial diversity can support plant health and help protect against pests. But it is unclear which practices are most beneficial, and what motivates farmers to choose them.

In Bangladesh, programs targeting ultra-poor, rural households can help families escape extreme poverty.

Antibiotic resistance in human and animal health is on the forefront of public debate, but it’s a less well-known issue in plant agriculture. However, antibiotics are important tools in fruit production, and their efficacy hinges on avoiding resistance in disease-causing bacteria. 

Despite improvements in economic and social empowerment, women in many countries still have little control over their own fertility and reproductive health.

Fertility rates in much of Sub-Saharan Africa remain high, despite declining child mortality and improved access to contraceptives and female education — factors that generally lead to smaller families and improved economic conditions in developing countries.

Laney Toffler, a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, recently traveled to Orlando to receive the Women in Agribusiness award and connect with industry leaders and peers, gaining insights that will shape her future in the field.

International humanitarian aid organizations rely on analyses from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, a global partnership that monitors and classifies the severity of food insecurity to help target assistance where and when it is most needed.

When Fatima Aljneibi began exploring international universities beyond her home in the United Arab Emirates, she knew she wanted a place where her interests in agriculture, the environment, and public policy could converge.