Private Gift Revives Illinois Soybean Innovation Lab Work

By Andi Anderson

The University of Illinois’ Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL) has resumed its global agricultural development efforts, thanks to a $1 million private donation that arrived after the lab’s federal funding was permanently canceled. SIL had been part of the Feed the Future Initiative, a U.S. program addressing global hunger, but lost its U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) support in 2024.

Lab director Peter Goldsmith said the donation, made anonymously through the UK-based non-profit Founders Pledge, enables SIL to continue its mission—albeit on a smaller scale.

The current focus is on the Lower Shire Valley in Malawi, a region with hot, low-elevation conditions that challenge traditional farming methods. The new project will adapt soybean farming and processing for that environment and build on recent World Bank irrigation investments.

Goldsmith explained that the Malawi project intentionally includes “miniature” versions of SIL’s broader soybean production systems—from cultivation and harvesting to processing and machinery development. This approach helps demonstrate SIL’s impact and strengthens the case for attracting future funding.

The donation also allowed SIL to rehire eight of its roughly 30 staff members. Most are based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, while others are located in Missouri and Kenya. Some of the team has already traveled to Malawi to begin fieldwork.

SIL had initially been funded through 2027, but Goldsmith said future federal support is unlikely. As a result, he is now focused on securing private or institutional funding to sustain the lab’s work long-term. While some innovation labs at other universities continue with internal funds, SIL is one of the first to secure an outside donation.

Goldsmith believes the attention drawn to SIL’s funding crisis played a key role in attracting donors, and he remains hopeful about future partnerships to continue advancing global food security through soy innovation.

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