U of I Soybean Innovation Lab saved with $1 million anonymous donation
The Feed the Future Soybean Innovation Lab was scheduled to close on April 15. The Trump administration cut funding for all of the USAID foreign aid contracts in February, which is where the laboratory received its funding.
Race Recap: 2025 Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend
University officials announced Monday that an anonymous donor stepped up and pledged a $1.02 million donation to fund the lab and its core staff for 12 months.
SIL director Pete Goldsmith said the grant will continue some essential work and allow them to apply for different funding sources.
'We will use the gift to restart our efforts with our partners and clients bringing soybean to the Lower Shire Valley of southern Malawi diversifying the Lower Shire economy and leveraging recent World Bank irrigation investments,' said Goldsmith, who also is an emeritus professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois.
Champaign man, ALS advocate reflects as ice bucket challenge comes back for a new cause
The work of SIL does not only help African countries, but is also a boon for the U.S. and global economies with more places growing soybeans.
'Africa is the last frontier for soybean. It`s one of the fastest-growing areas and has huge potential. But someone has to go in and de-risk commercial interests. That's what SIL does,' Goldsmith added. 'We go in and de-risk, build the market, and reduce uncertainty so that farmers in trade can follow on. And it's not just farmers, it's traders, it's processors. We've been very effective at it. Without us, there's no plan B.'
Anyone interested in donating to SIL can visit UIUC's GiveCampus page and selecting other, and writing 'Dr. Peter Goldsmith Support Fund – 11335457.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Johnson Controls International (JCI) Reports Mixed Earnings Results With US$310 Million Buyback Completion
Johnson Controls International recently reported a revenue increase to $6,052 million for Q3 2025, though net income fell to $701 million from the previous year. An anticipated organic sales growth and an active share buyback program, with 3.8 million shares repurchased, contributed to a 23% price increase over the last quarter. The broader market trends, reflecting a rally amid positive earnings and eased tariff concerns, likely provided additional support to JCI's rise. While earnings were mixed, the company's proactive share repurchase strategy and revenue growth add weight to its positive performance in a buoyant market environment. Johnson Controls International has 2 risks we think you should know about. Trump's oil boom is here — pipelines are primed to profit. Discover the 22 US stocks riding the wave. The recent revenue increase for Johnson Controls International (JCI) to US$6.05 billion, combined with a fall in net income to US$701 million, has implications for the company's future performance. While earnings showed mixed results, the proactive share buyback of 3.8 million shares and anticipated organic sales growth underscore the company's efforts to bolster shareholder value, evidenced by its 23% price increase over the last quarter. However, this surge still positions the current share price at US$103.24, slightly below the consensus analyst price target of US$110.40, indicating potential upside if positive trends continue. Over a broader five-year horizon, JCI's total return, including share price appreciation and dividends, reached a substantial 199.72%. This reflects strong underlying business strategies and resilience in volatile markets. Comparatively, within the past year, JCI has outperformed both the US Building industry, which returned 14.8%, and the broader US market, returning 17.7%, underscoring its robust position in the sector. Looking ahead, the company's new organizational model and Lean practices are expected to fuel revenue growth and net margin enhancements, with analysts forecasting an earnings growth of 15.25% annually. However, operational complexities and market pressures could impact these forecasts. The recent news might bolster revenue and earnings prospects by enhancing customer focus and operational efficiency. With the current share price nearing the fair value estimates, investors might see the current valuation as reflective of the company's strategic initiatives and market positioning. Assess Johnson Controls International's previous results with our detailed historical performance reports. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include JCI. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
New York Post
19 minutes ago
- New York Post
Bessent tells countries don't ‘panic' if trade deals aren't made before Aug. 1, insists US has ‘leverage' over China
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent implored US trading partners Wednesday not to 'panic' if they don't agree to economic deals before President Trump's Friday tariff deadline — while explaining that the US hasn't yet signed off on a permanent agreement with China because Washington now has 'a lot more leverage.' 'If there's not a deal by Aug. 1, I would encourage market participants, corporate America, even the countries, not to panic, because you can still do a deal,' Bessent said in remarks at a forum hosted by Breitbart News at the Waldorf Astoria in the nation's capital. Bessent went on to predict a 'busy August' with duty rates set to jump from the current 10% to as high as 50%, giving countries additional incentive to come to the negotiating table. 3 U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks next to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a press conference at government quarters Rosenbad after the trade talks between the U.S. and China concluded, in Stockholm, Sweden, July 29, 2025. via REUTERS Advertisement Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have stressed that the deadline can not be extended any more and that the rates will go up regardless of how far along negotiations are with any country. 'No extensions, no more grace periods. Aug. 1, the tariffs are set; they'll go into place. Customs will start collecting the money, and off we go,' Lutnick said on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'Obviously, after Aug. 1, people can still talk to President Trump. I mean, he's always willing to listen, and between now and then, I think the president is going to talk to a lot of people. Whether they can make him happy is another question.' Advertisement Trump affirmed in an all-caps post on Truth Social Wednesday morning: 'The August first deadline is the August first deadline — it stands strong and will not be extended.' 3 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng stand for a photo during meetings in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 28, 2025. US Treasury Department/AFP via Getty Images Bessent made his remarks after returning to Washington from a much-anticipated meeting with Chinese representatives in Stockholm on Monday and Tuesday ahead of an Aug.12 deadline for a 34% reciprocal tariff to take effect against Beijing. The Treasury head said recent trade deals announced by the US — including with the European Union and Japan — created a 'lot more leverage' and promised China will not get a 'special deal,' despite being America's third largest trading partner among individual nations. Advertisement 'They were a little on their heels because we were — a week before, we had just done the Japanese trade deal, then the day before we began our talk … with the EU,' Bessent said. 'The world's with us now,' he added. 3 A container ship arrives at the port in Lianyungang, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on July 14, 2025. AFP via Getty Images Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have held three rounds of talks with the Chinese in an effort to open up Beijing's economy to US goods. Advertisement The US and China agreed to a trade truce in June, with Trump imposing a 30% tariff. That rate, which includes a 10% baseline tariff and another 20% as punishment for the flow of fentanyl ingredients from inside the Asian power, is significantly lower than the 145% rate Trump threatened at the peak of their trade war in the spring. But Trump appeared to be optimistic Sunday about the prospects of an agreement, telling reporters in Scotland 'we're very close to a deal with China.'
American Military News
19 minutes ago
- American Military News
Pic: California launches 'snitch line' to report styrofoam ban offenders
California recently launched a 'snitch line' webpage to provide a way for California residents to anonymously report companies that produce Expanded Polystyrene foodware products, also known as styrofoam products. The new website comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) signed a law that officially banned the production and distribution of styrofoam foodware products earlier this year. According to a statement on the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery's website, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, which was outlined in Senate Bill 54, 'imposes minimum content requirements for single-use packaging and plastic food service ware, to be achieved through an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program.' According to The Post Millennial, while the ban on the production and distribution of styrofoam foodware products was implemented in January, producers have been allowed to continue selling styrofoam products if they achieved a 25% recycling target rate. However, according to the Surfrider Foundation, producers did not achieve the recycling rate by January. READ MORE: Secret JFK assassination files to be released on new webpage, GOP lawmaker says The new 'snitch line' webpage launched by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery explains that the webpage is intended to 'hold producers responsible if they sell EPS plastic foam food ware in California until they meet a 25% recycling rate.' The webpage adds, 'Producers of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) food service ware are currently restricted from selling or distributing EPS food service ware, like single-use takeout containers and cups, in or into California. Sellers of EPS food service ware who are NOT producers are not subject to this prohibition.' The new webpage also includes a confidentiality warning that informs users that reporting companies that produce and sell styrofoam foodware products will 'create a public record that is subject to California's Public Records Act.' The webpage allows users to choose whether they wish to 'remain anonymous' while reporting companies that violate California's styrofoam ban. A picture of California's new 'snitch line' website was shared Tuesday by Libs of TikTok on X, formerly Twitter. 'California now has a snitch line where residents can tell on fellow Californians for eating out of the wrong food containers after Newsom signed a law banning styrofoam containers,' Libs of TikTok tweeted. 'This is the same guy who called Trump a dictator.' California now has a snitch line where residents can tell on fellow Californians for eating out of the wrong food containers after Newsom signed a law banning styrofoam containers This is the same guy who called Trump a dictator — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 29, 2025
