Above left, IAC representatives review and discuss research ideas submitted for ISRC funding. Above right, ISU President David Cook makes opening remarks at the IAC meeting, which was held at Reiman Gardens. | | |
The Iowa Soybean Research Center’s (ISRC) Industry Advisory Council (IAC) met on September 15th for its annual meeting to consider proposed soybean research ideas and to offer guidance on how to best invest more than $400,000 in available new funding. Based on the IAC’s recommendations, the ISRC funded three new soybean research projects. In addition, Iowa State University President David Cook welcomed the council and spoke on the importance of agriculture-related programs and research at Iowa State. Full article
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On September 14th, the day prior to the ISRC’s annual IAC meeting, more than 50 soybean farmers, industry representatives and researchers came together to share ideas, discuss concerns and identify future research needs at the ISRC’s Soybean Research Forum. A research poster session followed the forum. Full article
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The ISRC will be hosting a Soybean Insights Webinar Series live over the noon hour (CST) the third Thursday of November through February. An opportunity for questions will follow each presentation. The webinars are open to the public. Visit the ISRC website for a list of topics and to register. The first of the webinars on Nov. 19 webinar will feature Fernando Miquez and Victoria Moser on Soybean Effects on Leaf Area Index: Defoliation Studies. Full article
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At the ISRC’s annual Industry Advisory Council meeting in September, industry partners received a preview of the ISRC’s Multiply the Impact campaign to match farmer investment for research.
Full article
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The ISRC made its first ever appearance at the Farm Progress Show as part of Iowa State University’s display, September 1-3, 2026, near Boone, Iowa. Co-directors Mark Licht and Steve Whitham provided an overview of the center and its research mission, highlighting two ISRC-funded research projects that demonstrate emerging technologies. Full article
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The Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State University hosted its sixth annual Meals from the Heartland food-packaging event on August 6, 2026. More than 70 volunteers from Iowa State University, Corteva and John Deere packaged more than 42,000 meals in two hours at ISU’s Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. Many thanks to our volunteers and to Cargill who has sponsored the event each year with a generous monetary donation to cover the costs of the meal ingredients, which contain soy protein. Full article
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The ISRC hosted more than 50 farmers and staff from the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) at Iowa State University on August 4, 2026. Iowa hosted the group’s annual meeting this year. The group visited research labs at the Advanced Teaching and Research Building, the Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Full article
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Iowa State PhD student Mayowa Aderoju, plant pathology, is passionate about developing strategic management approaches to combat the damaging impact of plant diseases in crop production. His research, within the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology and the Seed Science Center, focuses on seed health, seedborne disease epidemiology and disease management. Full article
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Congratulations to Edgar Vargas Morales, a PhD student in plant pathology on being selected for a $1,000 GDM Travel Grant to attend and present at CANVAS 2026, November 1-4, in Portland, Oregon. His poster is titled "Evaluating Soybean Cropping Systems: Using APSIM to Map Critical Phenological Stages at Different Planting Dates and Maturity Groups Across Iowa Environments." His major professor is Daren Mueller, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology. Full article
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ISRC Faculty Research Affiliate Dirk Maier is a Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and Director of the ISU Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex at Iowa State University, a $35 million state-of-the-art grain handling, drying, storage and feed processing facility. Its mission furthers ISU’s teaching, research, service, and extension with industry and international outreach in support of the global grain, feed, animal and bioproducts industries. Full article
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Allen Chen is the research lead at Advanced Agrilytics and serves as the company’s representative on the ISRC’s Industry Advisory Council. Advanced Agrilytics specializes in spatial agriculture, bringing practical product and performance insights to industry partners and growers alike. Chen leads the research division at Advanced Agrilytics, where his team focuses on understanding the environmental factors that drive field variability and uses spatial agronomic data to develop more precise and predictive crop management solutions. Full article
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ISU’s Spring 2026 Research and Innovation Roundtable – Leveraging AI to Advance Life Sciences and Agriculture – resulted in six projects selected for seed funding support from the Office of the President. Three of those projects include ISRC faculty research affiliates. Full article
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The North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) approved $3.5 million in funding for continued research in fiscal year 2027 to support 11 university-based projects. Iowa State researchers are involved in six of those projects. Full article
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Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department Chair and Professor Amy Kaleita was named an International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Fellow (iAABE) from CIGR (Commission Internationale du Génie Rural)! CIGR awards the title of fellow to individuals who “have made and are expected to continue making great contributions to the worldwide activities of CIGR.” The designation is considered a lifetime achievement honor. Full article
| | ISRC Faculty Research Affiliates Receive Recognitions | | |
Dior Kelley, genetics, development and cell biology received the 2026 Excellence in Education Award by the American Society of Plant Biologists. The award recognizes outstanding teaching, mentoring, and/or educational outreach in plant biology.
Dirk Maier, Professor, Director of the ISU Kent Feed Mill & Grain Science Complex, and ASABE Fellow, was awarded the 2026 ASABE Kishida International Award, at their international meeting. This award “recognizes outstanding contributions to engineering, mechanization and technology related programs of education, research, development, consultation or technology transfer that have resulted in improved food production, living conditions and/or education for people living outside the United States.”
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Special thanks to the Dr. Keith and Virginia Smith Family
for providing funding to make this newsletter possible.
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