The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has announced a new international education partnership between the college’s Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications (ALEC) program and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). The agreement formalizes plans to launch a Certificate in Global Agricultural Communications, a milestone initiative of the proposed James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications.
Back Row, left to right: Alum and Agricultural Photographer Katie Knapp, ALEC Teaching Assistant Professor Pam Axtman-Barker, ALEC student Taylor Talbert, Director of Agricultural Communications Owen Roberts, ALEC student Andrea Buhrow, ALEC Associate Professor Eric Morgan, Associate Dean of Academic Programs Anna Ball, Assistant Dean of Advancement Maggie Wave, and ALEC alum Lyle Orwig, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Operating Officer at the Certified Agriculture Group.
The partnership was unveiled yesterday at a ceremonial signing between ACES Dean Germán Bollero and IFAJ Vice President Adalberto Rossi.
The certificate — which will be delivered online and available broadly — is being developed by ALEC faculty and is informed by research conducted with IFAJ members. It is designed to be globally accessible, career-relevant, and aligned with the needs of agricultural communicators working across languages, geographies, and media platforms.
This marks the first time IFAJ, a professional organization representing 6,600 members across 62 countries, has committed to an academic collaboration of this scale. The federation voted unanimously to support the initiative, citing the urgent need to prepare communicators to lead in a rapidly evolving, interconnected food system.
“This certificate represents an exciting step forward for the global agricultural journalism community,” said Rossi. “By equipping professionals with critical thinking, multimedia skills, and a global perspective, we can raise the bar for agricultural communications worldwide.”
The certificate will be among the first offerings of the Evans Center, a newly announced hub within ACES that aims to advance education, research, and leadership in food and agricultural communications.
To bring the Evans Center to life, the U. of I. must raise $5 million by Aug. 15. With more than 60% of the goal already secured, this final stretch of fundraising is essential to establishing the center and launching its first initiatives, including the certificate program.
“The Evans Center is more than a tribute to Jim Evans’ legacy — it’s a bold commitment to the future of global agricultural communications,” said Anna Ball, associate dean for academic programs. “Through this center, we’re empowering students and professionals to connect cultures, elevate science, and drive progress in food and agriculture around the world.”
To learn more about the Evans Center, contact evanscenter@aces.illinois.edu. Gifts can be made online at evans.aces.illinois.edu/give or by contacting Stacey Cole in the College of ACES Office of Advancement at 217-244-1676 or smcole@illinois.edu.