Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week Returns for Seventh Year with Largest Lineup Yet
For Immediate Release
February 24, 2026
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, IL – The annual Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, presented by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, and Make It Champaign-Urbana, returns for its seventh year March 9-13, 2026. The weeklong celebration recognizes Champaign-Urbana’s robust AgTech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Parkland College, corporate partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the iFAB Tech Hub, and more.
“As we welcome hundreds of visitors to the Champaign-Urbana area, AgTech Week is our opportunity to demonstrate why this region is a national leader in agricultural innovation,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “In our seventh year, we’re proud to deliver our most robust lineup yet — including the inaugural iFAB Biomanufacturing Summit and expanded facility tours that highlight the depth of our ecosystem.”
Participating AgTech Week event hosts include Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, Parkland College, Serra Ventures, Startup World Cup, iFAB Tech Hub, Boston Bioprocess, Earnest Agriculture, and the U. of I.’s College of ACES, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), NSF Illinois Biofoundry (iBioFoundry), and Center for Digital Agriculture.
The schedule of events includes the following:
· Conferences: 2026 CDA Conference - Generative AI in Agriculture, 2026 AgTech Summit, and 2026 iFAB Biomanufacturing Summit
· Startup World Cup - Agriculture and Food Regional
· Precision Fermentation Workshops
· Serra Ventures - 2026 Investor Retreat
· CU AgTech Week Happy Hour
· Parkland College - 2026 AgTech Showcase
· CU CEO and Founder Roundtable
· Tours at University of Illinois Research Park, CABBI, IBRL, Boston Bioprocess, iBioFoundry, and Earnest Agriculture
“Innovation is part of our DNA here in Champaign County, as is collaboration. Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week is a direct reflection of those partnerships, which truly elevate our region and its economy when we work together,” said Laura Bleill, Director of External Engagement at the University of Illinois Research Park. “Our goal is to continue to build a bigger table, where the broader community can see how it plays a role in this ever changing and advancing sector.”
The full Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week schedule of events can be found online at https://www.cuagtechweek.com/events. Registration is required at many events.
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