The Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC) will invest more than $4.8 million across 29 research and education projects during the 2026–27 funding cycle, continuing Illinois agriculture’s investment in nutrient efficiency and meeting the goals of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS).

The portfolio balances continued investment in multi-year research with new science addressing emerging needs. More than $4 million will support continuing projects, while $817,955 will fund five new projects.

The 29 projects involve 16 principal investigators across six institutions, bringing together agronomists, soil scientists, economists, conservation specialists and other disciplines for collaborative, applied research.

The portfolio includes five first-year projects, nine second-year projects, eight third-year projects, three fourth-year projects and one fifth-year project, while maintaining three key long-term research efforts underway for more than a decade.

“By balancing long-term research with targeted new projects, NREC delivers practical insights that help Illinois farmers stay profitable while improving nutrient stewardship—maximizing our research investment today and bringing new science into the pipeline for the future,” said Corey Lacey, Ph.D., NREC Executive Director.

 About Illinois NREC

For more questions and additional information reach out to corey.lacey@illinoisnrec.org

FY 26-27 NREC Funding Highlights

  • NREC is investing more than $4.8 million across 29 projects in the 2026–27 funding cycle. This represents a significant investment by Illinois agriculture toward conservation and NLRS goals.
  • NREC is protecting the value of research already in the field while continually bringing new science into the pipeline. More than $4 million supports continuing projects, while $817,955 is being invested in five new projects addressing emerging research needs.
  • The five new projects closely reflect NREC’s current research priorities. They include work on statewide watershed targeting and implementation, improving the effectiveness of nitrification inhibitors, understanding economic and risk barriers that influence farmer adoption, investigating the biology behind nitrogen management, and expanding science-based conservation education.
  • NREC continues to support a broad research network. The 29 projects include 16 principal investigators across six institutions, bringing together agronomists, soil scientists, economists, conservation specialists, and other disciplines. This highlights NREC’s priority on multidisciplinary, systems-based, and collaborative applied research.
  • The project portfolio is intentionally spread across different research time horizons. It includes five first-year projects, nine second-year projects, eight third-year projects, three fourth-year projects, and one fifth-year project, while also maintaining three key long-term research efforts that have been underway for more than a decade.
  • The mix matters. Some NREC goals can be addressed relatively quickly, while others—particularly those involving complex systems—require multiple years of data to produce reliable recommendations. NREC’s funding explicitly recognizes the value of long-term, field-scale research as well as new, innovative, and outreach-focused projects.