The Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC) is jointly established by the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment (iSEE), the College of ACES, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Research Themes
Agroecosystem is a comprehensive system that carbon, water, nutrient cycles are intrinsically connected, interacting with human management practices, providing critical food/energy/fiber needs for humanity and ecosystem service.
Agricultural Production
We study the complex dynamics of crop productivity, its response to management practices and environmental stresses, and its resilience to climate change.
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Carbon
Plant carbon input from residue and root exudates further drives soil carbon dynamics and microbe-mediated transformation.
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Nutrients
Nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients) cycling in the agroecosystem is a critical determinant for both agricultural production and environmental sustainability.
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Water
Water quantity and quality are crucial for agroecosystems as they impact crop productivity and are also indicators of agriculture environmental outcomes.
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Digital Replica
Could the U.S. Midwest remain as the global food basket in the next 100 years? How can we ensure co-sustainability of food production and environmental quality in this landscape?
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Solutions
ASC aims to transform our advanced use-inspired and applied basic research outcomes into different practical solutions for various stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Learn MoreIn The News
Review: Heat-resilient crops are within reach — given enough time and money
ASC Scientist Carl Bernacchi, with colleagues, reviews how advances in plant science and bioengineering can deliver heat-resilient crops.
ASC to co-lead new project targeting agricultural emissions through U.S.-Brazil collaboration
The project will model greenhouse gas emissions from intensified agriculture, supporting sustainable practices and climate policy development, with joint funding from Embrapa and ACES
ASC launches SIGMA, a joint effort focusing on Southeast Asian Agri-Food Innovation
ASC Director Kaiyu Guan participated in the Singapore Ecosperity event to launch a new joint research alliance known as SIGMA with the National University of Singapore.
Illinois Leads Most Rigorous Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study To Date
A groundbreaking multi-year study from the University of Illinois delivers the most extensive dataset yet available on nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from Midwest corn and soybean fields.
ASC director Honored with 2025 agInnovation Research Innovation Award of Excellence
Kaiyu Guan has been awarded the 2025 agInnovation Research Innovation Award of Excellence for his groundbreaking work in integrating advanced computational modeling with AI methods and remote sensing to advance food security and sustainability, as well as his leadership in resilient agriculture and policy-forward research.