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ACES gets grant for African soybean research

The University of Illinois’ Ag school is receiving a 25-Million dollar grant to help improve soybean yields in five African countries.

The school’s ag economist Peter Goldsmith will lead a consortium of universities and other groups in the research. He has spent more than a decade conducting research in similar latitudes in South America to increase soybean production.  The group will conduct its research in the sub-Saharan African countries of Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, and Ethiopia to develop high-yielding soybean varieties that can adapt to low-latitude environments.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, who has secured more than five-Million dollars for soybean research at the University of Illinois, announced the grant Friday which will be administered by U-S-A-I-D (the U.S. Agency for International Development).

Two researchers with the University of Missouri will head up the economic and grain quality research areas.

 University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)