ACES Seminars

Abstract:
Nutrient pollution is leading to various local and downstream water quality issues. Within the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB), which covers over 40% of the land area in the contiguous United States, nutrient pollution has been linked with the hypoxia (dissolved oxygen < 2 mg/L) in the Gulf of America. The Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) New Goal Framework, published in 2015, established an interim target of 20% reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus loading from the into the Gulf of America by 2025 and a long-term goal of reducing the five-year running average areal extent of the Gulf hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by the year 2035. As one of the major nutrient source states in the MARB, Illinois established its state-level nutrient loss reduction strategy (IL NLRS) in 2015, with an interim target of reducing 15% nitrate loading and reducing 25% total phosphorus loading by 2025, and an ultimate goal of 45% reduction in both nutrient loadings. A decade has passed and it’s the right time to review our current progress and challenges and proactively plan for the coming decades. This presentation details a roadmap towards the next generation of IL NLRS. Key research gaps are identified for a science-backed and data-enriched NLRS 2.0. By integrating state-of-the-art research with adaptive management, NLRS 2.0 provides the essential foundation for informing state policy and accelerating the effective implementation of environmental stewardship programs across the state.

Bio: 
Dr. Bin Peng is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Water and Agriculture at Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). His core research interests center around unraveling the complexities of water, nutrient, and carbon cycles within diverse agricultural landscapes and their interconnectedness with downstream water quality. To tackle these challenges, his research leverages various tools and methods, including field measurement, computational and process-based modeling (hydrological, cropping system, ecosystem and earth system modeling), remote sensing, geospatial big data, model-data integration, and artificial intelligence.

Mission Statement:
Dr. Peng is deeply motivated to drive transdisciplinary, convergence, and use-inspired research for breaking new ground in scientific exploration. He is passionate about developing innovative technologies and systems solutions in digital agriculture and precision conservation to foster sustainable agri-food systems and preserve healthy watersheds amidst the pressures of land use intensification and climate change. The driving force behind his research pursuits lies in addressing critical societal issues, including ensuring water, food and energy security, enhancing water quality and environmental sustainability, and nurturing rural economies and human well-being both in the United States and across the globe.