URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) – The College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has partnered with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) to create a Certificate in Global Agricultural Communications.
The new program will be online, globally accessible, career-focused, researched informed, and will be developed by the Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications (ALEC) program at the UIUC. It is designed for communicators across languages, regions, and media platforms. The agreement was signed by Dean Germán Bollero of ACES and Adalberto Rossi, Vice President of IFAJ. This is IFAJ’s first major academic collaboration with a unanimous vote from 6,600 members across 62 countries.
“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.”
This will be one of the first programs offered by the James F. Evans Global Center for Food and Agricultural Communications, a new initiative within ACES. The center aims to advance education, research, and leadership in agricultural communications and honor the legacy of Dr. Jim Evans, a pioneer in the field. To launch the center, ACES needs to raise $5 million by August 15, 2025 and more than 60% of the goal has already been secured.
“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.”