University News

Agriculture Around the World Webinar on April 11

March 27, 2025

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MACOMB, IL - - Curious about how food is grown in different parts of the world? Interested in sustainability, conservation or global career opportunities? Join the Western Illinois University Department of Agriculture for the Agriculture Around the World Webinar from 11 a.m.-noon, Friday, April 11.

This virtual event is open free to the public at bit.ly/worldag.

The webinar will feature speakers from New Zealand, Italy, Anguilla, Costa Rica and Ecuador, this webinar will explore how agriculture differs across regions and how everything is interconnected.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore diverse agricultural practices from various countries, discover international career paths in agriculture, learn about global study opportunities and engage in interactive discussions with industry leaders.

Speakers include:
Eric Neumann – Originally from Illinois, Neumann is the owner of Epi-Insight Limited, a consulting firm specializing in animal health, biosecurity and public policy. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked around the world to prevent and manage disease outbreaks in livestock.
Andrea Venturi – A research agronomist at WIU, Venturi is passionate about sustainable farming and finding ways to produce food without harming the environment. Raised in Italy, he combines modern science with traditional farming techniques to create better agricultural solutions.
Day Hughes – A high school Agricultural Science teacher, Day is helping shape the future of farming through education. Though he didn't grow up on a farm, his interest in poultry production and agriculture education led him to study at WIU, where he is now pursuing a degree in Agriculture Education.
Branden McCallum – As a Conservation Reserve Program Specialist for the Farm Service Agency, Branden works with farmers to protect land and resources. Growing up on a family farm in Illinois, he saw firsthand the importance of conservation. Recently, he traveled to Costa Rica as part of the 2024 Ag Industry Tour to study international sustainability practices.
Graciela Andrango – Growing up in Ecuador, where farming was a way of life for many families, Andrango developed a deep appreciation for agriculture. Now an agribusiness professor at WIU, she helps students understand the economics and business side of food production.

For more information on the virtual event, contact Amanda Niemann at ac-niemann2@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Aaron Viner (AP-Viner@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing