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Articles by Claire Benjamin
New Morrow Plots gate unveiled as historic research site marks 150 years
URBANA, IL– The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign celebrated the completion of a new gate and perimeter fencing at the historic Morrow Plots with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 19, 2026, during Celebrate Food and Ag Day. Made possible by a gift from Bayer's Crop Science division and income from the John N.
Illinois’ agricultural and biological engineering undergraduate program ranked No. 4 by U.S. News
URBANA, IL – The undergraduate program in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earned the No. 4 spot in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, continuing its longstanding place among the nation’s leading agricultural and biological engineering programs.
Illinois 4-H Experience Auction returns Sept. 18–20 with exclusive travel, sports, and family experiences
Supporters can preview the auction now, explore the offerings, and start planning their bids before bidding opens at 8 a.m. Central Time on Friday, Sept. 18, and closes Sunday, Sept. 20. Illinois 4-H, part of University of Illinois Extension in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, is part of America's largest youth development organization, reaching nearly 200,000 young people across the state of Illinois each year.
ACES maintains record-level undergraduate enrollment in fall 2026
URBANA, IL – The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues a three-year run of record-level enrollment, reflecting sustained demand for the college’s programs. This fall, ACES welcomed 542 first-year students and 155 transfer students. Overall undergraduate enrollment stands at 3,063 students, just 18 fewer than in fall 2025, when the college surpassed 3,000 students for the first time.
Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications becomes eighth department in College of ACES
URBANA, IL — Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications will become the eighth academic department in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, following final approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education on Aug. 19.
Illinois 4-H Experience Auction returns Sept. 18–20 with exclusive travel, sports, and family experiences
The Illinois 4-H Experience Auction returns Sept. 18–20, 2026, offering 24 one-of-a-kind experiences and exclusive memorabilia that help support programming and opportunities for Illinois youth. Supporters can preview the auction now, explore the offerings, and start planning their bids before bidding opens at 8 a.m. Central Time on Friday, Sept. 18, and closes Sunday, Sept. 20.
Amy Roady named inaugural director of Evans Center at Illinois
Roady brings more than two decades of experience spanning agricultural communications, Extension, journalism, nonprofit leadership, and corporate communications. In her new role, she will help establish the long-term vision for the Evans Center, which was created to strengthen collaboration, professional engagement, and public dialogue surrounding agriculture and food systems.
College of ACES pioneers dual-credit opportunity for high school students
"Dual-credit opportunities are an important part of our university’s commitment to expanding access to higher education,” said Lisa Anderson, director of the Office of Online Learning at U. of I. "While many regional universities and community colleges offer dual-credit courses, ACES 102 represents the first step for our campus in this space.
Siemer Associate Professor of Wheat Breeding named at U of I
Professor Jessica Rutkoski was formally invested as the inaugural Siemer Milling Company Associate Professor of Wheat Breeding in the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during a ceremony on Oct. 27. The endowed professorship was made possible by a $1 million gift from Siemer Milling Company, a family- and employee-owned business based in Teutopolis.
U of I expands leadership in the TIAA Center for Farmland Research
Since its founding in 2012 with a gift from TIAA, the center has advanced rigorous research on farmland markets, equipping investors, farmers, landowners, lenders, and policymakers with tools such as farmland valuation and returns indexing resources. The center and its tools guide investment decisions, farm transitions, tax determinations, and analysis of factors impacting farmland and the agricultural sector.
Sarah Low named Fellow of the Regional Science Association International
Low will be formally recognized at the 72nd Annual North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International, taking place Nov. 12–15, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. This honor is reserved for scholars who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to the advancement of regional science, an interdisciplinary field that examines the spatial dimensions of economics, geography, and planning. "I’m deeply honored to be recognized by my peers in this way,” Low said.
Illinois’ Agricultural and Biological Engineering undergraduate program ranked no. 2 in the nation
URBANA, IL – The undergraduate program in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is now ranked no. 2 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, placing it among the very best programs in the country. The program has maintained strong national recognition through the years.
Illinois State Fair Governor's Sale of Champions highlights partnership with College of ACES
URBANA, IL – Yesterday, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced the winners of the Sale of Champions at the 2025 Illinois State Fair — the premier auction showcasing the top livestock exhibited by Illinois 4-H youth.
ACES’ Temple Grandin honored with University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award
This prestigious honor recognizes alumni who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen profession or life’s work. Grandin will be formally recognized during Homecoming Week at the 2025 Alumni Awards Gala on Sept. 25 at the Pear Tree Estate in Champaign, Illinois. A professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, Grandin is a trailblazer in the fields of livestock behavior and welfare.
Bee truck crashes pose steep economic losses for beekeepers, says expert
When a semi-truck carrying hundreds of honey bee colonies crashed and overturned in Washington state last week, it wasn't just a roadside mess—it was a potentially devastating economic blow to the beekeeping operation behind it, said Brittney Goodrich, assistant professor of agricultural and consumer economics in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Federal report spotlights urgent need
Claire Benjamin University of Illinois The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing -- iFAB -- Tech Hub, led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is positioned to become the cornerstone of the United States' bioeconomy infrastructure in the wake of a newly released report from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology that calls for bold federal investments and urgent action to secure U.S. leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
ACES, IFAJ commit to launching a certificate in global agricultural communications
Dr. Jim Evans gathers with a group for the ceremonial signing. URBANA, IL —The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has announced a new international education partnership between the college’s Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications (ALEC) program and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).
Meat from Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions donated to Feeding Illinois food banks through new ACES, IDOA partnership
URBANA, IL – The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, is donating meat from the 2024 Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions to Feeding Illinois food banks for the first time under a new formalized agreement.
ACES Family Academies returns this summer to spark curiosity and connection
URBANA, IL –Summer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign means it’s time to welcome future Illini to campus for ACES Family Academies, a beloved three-day experience where fun meets discovery. Hosted by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, this interactive program runs July 9–11, 2025, and is open to kids ages 8–13 and their ACES alumni relatives.
Investiture honors Jessica Rutkoski as inaugural Siemer Milling Company Associate Professor of Wheat Breeding
URBANA, IL — Professor Jessica Rutkoski was formally invested as the inaugural Siemer Milling Company Associate Professor of Wheat Breeding in the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during a ceremony on Oct. 27, 2025. The endowed professorship was made possible by a $1 million gift from Siemer Milling Company, a family- and employee-owned business based in Teutopolis, Illinois.
ACES leaders receive agInnovation awards, emphasize vital role of federal investment in agricultural research
Their recognition highlights individual achievement and the collective impact of sustained, collaborative research efforts powered by federal investment. agInnovation North Central connects researchers from land-grant institutions across 12 Midwestern states, catalyzing multistate research collaborations designed to address critical challenges in agriculture, food systems, and natural resource management.
ACES’ financial planning program ranks among top nine nationally
Unlike many that are housed in business schools, Illinois’ financial planning program is rooted in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This agricultural connection provides students with a distinctive blend of skills that go beyond traditional financial planning, incorporating insights into economics, commodities, futures contracts, and small business planning for rural and agricultural settings.
Tech hub catalyzes 'agricultural biologicals' innovations
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iFAB granted $51 million from EDA Tech Hubs program, positioning Central Illinois as a frontrunner in biomanufacturing
CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub has been awarded approximately $51 million from the Tech Hubs Program through the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
iFAB awarded $51 million EDA Tech Hubs grant to propel Central Illinois as a biomanufacturing leader
Claire Benjamin URBANA, Ill. — The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub has been awarded approximately $51 million from the Tech Hubs Program through the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
Alum Matt Riggs Crafts Beer With Grain Developed by the College of ACES
By Claire Benjamin Riggs Beer Company brews crafted with grain developed by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) will be served at the Celebrate Food & Ag event before the Illini Football game against Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 6. Purchase discounted tickets to the game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.
University of Illinois ranked No. 4 in agricultural and biological engineering, moving up three spots
URBANA — The agricultural and biological engineering graduate program at the University of Illinois is ranked No. 4 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, moving up three spots according to the go-to source for higher education rankings. The program’s recent ascent reflects dedicated efforts to enhance opportunities for graduate students in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE).
Scientists figure out upcycling plastics to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Dow have developed a breakthrough process to transform the most widely produced plastic—polyethylene (PE)—into the second-most widely produced plastic, polypropylene (PP), which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Huimin Zhao receives AIChE Food, Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Division Award in Chemical Engineering
Chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Huimin Zhao has received the 2022 from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The Division Award recognizes an individual's outstanding chemical engineering contribution in the food, pharmaceutical, and/or bioengineering field, which is of a fundamental nature and/or of practical significance to industry and industrial practice.
Illinois co-leads DOE grant to engineer bioplastic packaging that's infinitely recyclable
Professor Damien Guironnet, expert in polymer chemistry at Illinois, holds an example of multilayer packaging that cannot be recycled. He is leading a new effort to create plastic packaging material that could be recycled or biodegrade.
Scientists demonstrate a better, more eco-friendly method to produce hydrogen peroxide
Scientists demonstrate a better, more eco-friendly method to produce hydrogen peroxide June 1, 2021 University of Illinois professor David Flaherty and graduate student Tomas Ricciardulli demonstrate a more efficient and environmentally friendly method to produce hydrogen peroxide, which is in high demand for its antiseptic properties. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used to disinfect minor cuts at home and for oxidative reactions in industrial manufacturing.
Shukla receives Journal of Physical Chemistry Lectureship Award
Shukla receives Journal of Physical Chemistry Lectureship Award April 26, 2021 The Journal of Physical Chemistry and the Physical Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society recognized University of Illinois chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Diwakar Shukla with the Journal of Physical Chemistry and PHYS Division Lectureship Award for his contributions to the field.
Light signal emitted during photosynthesis used to quickly screen crops
University of Illinois Research Technician Evan Dracup (left) uses hyperspectral cameras to screen whole research plots for high-yielding photosynthesis traits. Credit: Claire Benjamin/RIPE project An international effort called Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) aims to transform crops' ability to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into higher yields.
Climate Change: Corn, Other Crops Won’t Benefit from Elevated Carbon Dioxide Levels
Maturing corn ears. Photo: University of Minnesota The U.S. backs out of the Paris climate agreement even as carbon dioxide (CO2) levels continue to rise. Through photosynthesis, plants are able to turn CO2 into yield. Logic tells us that more CO2 should boost crop production, but a new review from the University of Illinois shows that some crops, including corn, are adapted to a pre-industrial environment and cannot distribute their resources effectively to take advantage of extra CO2.
Yields vs. Nutrition - How Does Rising Carbon Dioxide Affect Food Crops?
Recent research has shown that rising carbon dioxide levels will likely boost yields, but at the cost of nutrition.
Crop Growth Boosted 40% by Making Photosynthesis More Efficient
Over two years of field trials, scientists Donald Ort (right), Paul South (center) and Amanda Cavanagh (left) found tobacco plants engineered to shortcut photorespiration are about 40 percent more productive in real-world field conditions.
Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth by 40 percent
Scientists Don Ort (left), Paul South (center) and Amanda Cavanagh (right) study how well their plants modified to bypass photorespiration perform beside unmodified plants in real-world conditions. They found that plants engineered with a synthetic shortcut are about 40 percent more productive.
Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth 40%
Plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis; however, most crops on the planet are plagued by a photosynthetic glitch, and to deal with it, evolved an energy-expensive process called photorespiration that drastically suppresses their yield potential.
Protect forest elephants to conserve ecosystems, not DNA
Although it is erroneously treated as a subspecies, the dwindling African forest elephant is a genetically distinct species. New University of Illinois research has found that forest elephant populations across Central Africa are genetically quite similar to one another. Conserving this critically endangered species across its range is crucial to preserving local plant diversity in Central and West African Afrotropical forests--meaning conservationists could save many species by protecting one.
Teachable, Ultra-Compact, Autonomous Phenotyping Robot Introduced To Investors, Market
Investors and executives in the agricultural industry are getting a first look at TerraSentia, a new-to-the-market agricultural robot that autonomously measures crop traits, developed at the University of Illinois. TerraSentia is being unveiled on Sept. 11 to 13 at the Ag Innovation Showcase in St. Louis, bringing agricultural innovators together with investors to help realize the future of the industry. The start-up company EarthSense, Inc.
Modified soybeans yield more in future climate conditions
By 2050, we will need to feed 2 billion more people on less land. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide levels are predicted to hit 600 parts per million—a 50% increase over today’s levels—and 2050 temperatures are expected to frequently match the top 5% hottest days from 1950-1979. In a three-year field study, researchers proved engineered soybeans yield more than conventional soybeans in 2050’s predicted climatic conditions. Soybeans grown in fields that simulate 2050 temperatures show signs of stress.
The Latest News and Data About Ethanol Production
A multi-institutional team led by the University of Illinois has proven sugarcane can be genetically engineered to produce oil in its leaves and stems for biodiesel production. Surprisingly, the modified sugarcane plants also produced more sugar, which could be used for ethanol production. The dual-purpose bioenergy crops are predicted to be more than five times more profitable per acre than soybeans and two times more profitable than corn.
High schoolers invited to explore college life in ACES at Illini Summer Academies
URBANA, IL – High school students are invited to dive into hands-on discovery and explore future careers during Illini Summer Academies, hosted by Illinois Extension 4-H on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus from June 22–26, 2025. This immersive, five-day experience offers a glimpse into college life and features interactive sessions led by Illinois faculty, including five sessions hosted by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
Federal report spotlights urgent need for U.S. biomanufacturing - iFAB Tech Hub is ready to deliver
Developed with input from over 1,800 stakeholders and released through the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the report urges more than $15 billion in near-term funding and the creation of a national network of manufacturing facilities. The iFAB Tech Hub stands out as a ready-built model for scaling biomanufacturing innovation and commercialization. One of only 12 Tech Hubs to receive implementation funding through the U. S.
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