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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Photosynthesis & Food Security

Ag + Energy

Health + Wellness

Tech + Society

The Photosynthesis & Food Security theme works to improve and future-proof crop photosynthesis to support global food security.

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Featured Stories

Professor of plant biology Tracy Lawson
Research
Lawson brings renowned plant science expertise to Illinois
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A research team led by food science and human nutrition professor Yong-Su Jin combined the special attributes of E. coli with the photosynthetic capabilities of microalgae to take in carbon dioxide and convert it to useful biological chemicals. Photo by Craig Pessman
Research
Microalgae and bacteria team up to convert CO2 into useful products
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Soybean field trials took place for three years to observe developmental stages of different varieties. / Danny Gotarkar
Research
Traditional breeding falls short in boosting soybean photosynthesis
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Stephen Long and Donald Ort of the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project.
Research
Long/Ort step back from RIPE leadership roles they helped create
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As part of the Tansley Review, the trio discuss their own research in increasing Rubisco in sorghum, as shown in these 2023 field trials. The authors believe improving rubisco could be part of short-term, and long-term efforts to meet the growing global food demand. Credit: Coralie Salesse-Smith
Research
Rubisco's role in global food security
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Katherine Meacham-Hensold led work looking to improve the photorespiratory bypass of potato as a postdoctoral researcher in Don Ort’s lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Research
Climate-ready crop: RIPE team shows increase in food mass through photorespiratory bypass in elevated temperatures
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