Volume 2 | Issue 1
DISCOVER UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WHAT WE DO + WHY IT MATTERS
At its core, research within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) centers on improving lives. With expertise in agriculture and the environment, family and communities, and health and wellness, our reach is both broad and deep. Uniting us is a reliance on the latest innovations in data and technology, as well as a deep commitment to solving realworld problems affecting Central Illinois, the United States, and the globe. Here, we showcase a fraction of our world-class research in the area of agriculture and the environment, addressing the unique needs of farmers in the context of COVID-19, innovating in the organic sector, improving water quality, and more.
FARMER MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19 While popular media has covered some issues in agriculture related to COVID-19, to date no research evidence exists demonstrating impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of farmers, especially with regards to Illinois. Research has demonstrated that psychological distress among producers is associated with higher rates of injury as well as lower rates of adopting new technologies. In a project at the very intersection of agriculture and health, ACES researchers are collecting data from agricultural producers in Illinois about the impacts of COVID-19 on their day-to-day operations and finances, as well as on their mental health. So far, the team has collected nearly 2,700 responses. Once completed, Illinois Extension educators will use the findings to share useful mental health information and resources.
The most common stressors for producers include unpredictable weather, fluctuating market prices, changing policies and tariffs, long hours, and safety risks associated with operating heavy machinery.
IMPROVING ORGANIC CORN Organic corn is an attractive option for many producers, with its reduced environmental footprint and ability to fetch higher premiums in the marketplace. However, little information and even fewer seed options exist to allow for scale-up. In a transdisciplinary project, Illinois scientists and regional farmers are collaborating to develop tasty, nutrient-rich, processing-ready organic corn options that thrive in Midwestern growing conditions. Illinois breeders and soil scientists are working with organic producers across the Midwest, collecting crucial data on varietal performance in real-world, on-farm scenarios. Illinois experts are investigating business and intellectual property considerations, and studying the processing and nutritional quality of the final food products. With this project, a more robust organic corn market is on its way.
Researchers are working with farmers to improve organic corn options, aiming to deliver bettertasting, more nutritious products to consumers.
DISCOVER: AG & ENVIRONMENT aces-research@illinois.edu
aces.illinois.edu/research/areas/ag-env
HOW COVID-19 IMPACTS FARMERS IN GHANA Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in food and economic systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Illinois researchers at the Soybean Innovation Lab are studying how farmers in Ghana mitigate COVID-19 challenges. Ghana implemented a partial lock-down to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and trade disruptions between rural and urban areas resulted in increasing food prices and skyrocketing inflation. The researchers will survey 200 smallholder farmers in northern Ghana, gauging farmer awareness of COVID-19 and potential changes in future cropping plans. For example, farmers may adapt to the high food prices by shifting production from staple crops like maize and rice to commercial crops like soybeans. The study will provide data that government and development organizations can use for policy efforts to support local markets and the food value chain.
The Illinois Soybean Innovation Lab studies how farmers in Ghana respond to COVID-19 challenges.
SOIL EROSION AND LAND MANAGEMENT Soil erosion contributes to pollution of waterways but the process can be complex and difficult to predict. Illinois researchers are developing tools to realistically estimate the effects of soil erosion under different scenarios, including natural processes and human actions. They plan to create a web platform where agricultural producers and others can evaluate the consequences of various land management strategies over time, both at the local and regional scale. The goal is to provide a tool stakeholders can use to make informed management decisions.
The Watershed-Ecosystem Research Laboratory (WERL) is developing a web tool to estimate how land management practices affect soil erosion and water quality.
FUNDING SOURCES Farmer Mental Health: The researchers have applied for USDA NIFA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network funding (potentially $7.2 million over 3 years) Courtney Cuthbertson, Human Development and Family Studies | Josie Rudolphi, Agricultural and Biological Engineering | Chelsea Harbach; Phillip Alberti; Karla Belzer; and Chelsey Byers Gerstenecker, University of Illinois Extension Contact: cuthbert@illinois.edu Organic Corn: USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension program ($2 million) Michelle Wander, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences | Carmen Ugarte, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences | Martin Bohn, Crop Sciences | Bryan Endres, Agricultural and Consumer Economics | Juan Andrade, Food Science & Human Nutrition Contact: cugarte@illinois.edu COVID-19 and Ghana: Soybean Innovation Lab ($13,000) Edward Martey, CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Ghana | Pete Goldsmith, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics; Feed the Future Soybean Innovation Lab Contact: pgoldsmi@illinois.edu Soil Erosion: USDA NIFA ($500,000) Maria Chu and Jorge Guzman, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and The Grainger College of Engineering Contact: mlchu@illinois.edu