CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The annual Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, presented by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, and Make It Champaign-Urbana, is underway.
It runs from March 4-8 and is used to recognize Champaign-Urbana’s AgTech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Parkland College, corporate innovation partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the Illinois AgTech Accelerator, iFAB Tech Hub, and more.
“It’s been another incredible year of accomplishments and growth, and we’re excited to celebrate those milestones this week,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “From the iFAB Tech Hub designation to the groundbreaking of new facilities, we’re excited to showcase why our community is the “epicenter” of AgTech.”
Participating AgTech Week organizations include Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, GDM Seeds, Parkland College, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of ACES, Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, Center for Digital Agriculture, and Office of Corporate Relations.
“Although AgTech innovation knows no season here in Champaign-Urbana, we are thrilled to present our version of March Madness,” said Laura Bleill, Director of External Engagement at the University of Illinois Research Park and chair of the AgTech Summit planning committee. “Our goal is to make AgTech more accessible, as we see more growth and traction in this sector across campus and community year after year.”
The schedule of events includes the following:
- CU AgTech Week Happy Hour, sponsored by GDM Seeds
- Tours of University of Illinois Research Park (UIRP) and the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL)
- AgTech Summit & Showcase
- Center for Digital Ag Conference – The Future of Digital Agriculture
- Parkland College AgTech Showcase
Community highlights from the last year include:
- Parkland College broke ground on its new $6 million AGCO Training Center, which will house the new AGCO Service Technician associate's degree program.
- Moving up three spots, the agricultural and biological engineering graduate program at the University of Illinois was ranked No. 4 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.
- Serra Ventures, a Champaign-based venture capital firm, announced their partnership with Grondex International, a Netherlands-based farmland management firm, to create the Serra-Grondex Ag & Food Tech Fund II.
- Nutrien Ag Solutions partnered with a local FFA student on an award-winning crop innovation project at their 282-acre Innovation Farm in Champaign.
- UIUC’s Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation - also known as CABBI - broke ground on its new state-of-the-art greenhouse in University of Illinois Research Park. The facility will feature a solar panel array, a plant phenotyping facility, and walk-in growth rooms.
- Boston Bioprocess, founded in Boston in 2022, moved its headquarters to Champaign-Urbana in 2023 and has already grown from a team of two to a team of eight.
- President Joe Biden announced that the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub (iFAB Tech Hub) is among 31 designated Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs (Tech Hubs) by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) - recognizing Champaign, Piatt, and Macon counties as a globally competitive center for innovation and job creation in biomanufacturing.
The full Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week schedule of events can be found HERE.
Registration is required at many events, but all are free to attend.
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