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Category: In the News

Illinois study reveals major genetic weakness for future corn breeding

Jenifer Camila Godoy dos Santos and Martin Bohn stand together among tall corn plants in a research field. Both are smiling as they examine the plants, which are surrounded by rows of mature corn stretching into the distance.

Research led by Jenifer Camila Godoy dos Santos, with CDA Affiliates Martin Bohn and Alex Lipka, reveals critically low genetic variability for grain yield among key corn breeding lines, highlighting the need to broaden genetic diversity to support resilient, productive hybrids for the future.

John Reid receives prestigious engineering award

Recognition graphic featuring a headshot of John F. Reid on the left and text announcing him as the 2026 Cyrus Hall McCormick–Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal Recipient from ASABE. The graphic identifies Reid as Executive Director of the Center for Digital Agriculture and Research Professor in the University of Illinois Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

CDA Executive Director John Reid received the prestigious 2026 Cyrus Hall McCormick-Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal awarded by ASABE. Read more in this feature story by the UI College of ACES.

John Reid earns gold

Recognition graphic featuring a headshot of John F. Reid on the left and text announcing him as the 2026 Cyrus Hall McCormick–Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal Recipient from ASABE. The graphic identifies Reid as Executive Director of the Center for Digital Agriculture and Research Professor in the University of Illinois Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

John Reid reflects on his journey from rural Virginia to pioneering autonomous agricultural systems and advancing innovation at John Deere after receiving the 2026 Cyrus Hall McCormick–Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal.

AIFARMS Associate Director Madhu Khanna Named 2025 AAAS Fellow

Portrait graphic of Madhu Khanna, a woman with shoulder-length dark hair and glasses, wearing a red blazer. Text reads “2025 AAAS Fellow” with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) logo. Additional text identifies her as Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), and ACES Distinguished Professor in Environmental Economics at the University of Illinois.

CDA Affiliate and AIFARMS Associate Director Madhu Khanna has been named a 2025 AAAS Fellow for her contributions to social and economic sciences. Her work at AIFARMS advances understanding of how policy and economics shape adoption of sustainable, AI-driven agricultural technologies.