ACES Researcher Acclaimed as National Leader in Agricultural Innovation

By Lauren Quinn

A scientist in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the recipient of the 2025 national agInnovation award for Excellence in Agricultural Research Innovation. 

Kaiyu Guan, professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, received the recognition for his global reputation in agroecosystem science and his pioneering integration of artificial intelligence, satellite sensing, process modeling, and supercomputing to improve food security and environmental sustainability. The national award comes after Guan was honored in the same category by agInnovation’s North Central region in April.