Soybean Innovation Lab to close as USAID funding ceases

USA – The Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL), a key component of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Feed the Future program, will officially close its doors on April 15, according to its director, Peter Goldsmith.

The closure comes as a result of the cessation of USAID funding, which Goldsmith announced in a February 7 social media post. The lab, headquartered at the University of Illinois (U of I), has been a global leader in advancing soybean development to combat hunger and poverty in emerging markets.

The shutdown of SIL is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce government spending, which recently led to the abrupt closure of USAID’s Washington, D.C., headquarters and the placement of nearly all direct hires on administrative leave.

However, on February 7, Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, temporarily halted the administration’s plans for USAID. Nichols is scheduled to hear arguments on February 12 regarding a request from employee groups to block the move.

For Goldsmith, a longtime U of I professor and the lab’s director, the closure is a devastating blow.

“Today I had to let go of a staff of 30,” he said. “These individuals are not only unique experts in the field of tropical soybean but also close colleagues and friends who are now unexpectedly out of work.”

The impact of SIL’s closure extends far beyond the University of Illinois campus. Established in 2013, SIL has been a cornerstone of the land-grant university system, which now loses 19 Innovation Labs across 17 states.

These labs have delivered significant, measurable impacts with minimal investment, Goldsmith emphasized.

“US soybean farmers lose one of their best tools to expand their markets and US standards globally. Local economies in emerging markets lose soybean as an incomparable engine for growing wealth, prosperity, and economic development,” he said.

SIL’s mission has been to provide researchers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector with the information and technology needed to advance soybean development in Africa.

With more than 100 soybean experts from 24 countries, the lab has played a critical role in addressing food insecurity and fostering economic growth in developing regions. Goldsmith warned that the closure will have far-reaching consequences, including increased poverty, unrest, and migration due to greater food insecurity.

In addition, the closure of SIL also affects partner institutions, including Iowa State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Missouri, which have contributed to the lab’s research and outreach efforts.

Goldsmith has requested a federal review of the funding cut, hoping the decision will be overturned. He noted that 18 other labs in 17 countries within the innovation network will also be impacted by the funding cuts.

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