Illinois #1 food hub, critical infrastructure

Science World News (Dec. 18) -- Illinois is the most critical hub in the network of U.S. domestic food transfers, according to a new study by CEE Assistant Professor Megan Konar, a visiting scholar at the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs, and colleagues. The study was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Researchers noted that much of Illinois's transportation infrastructure, including railway, the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, helps guide food security. However, Illinois has 2,311 structurally deficient bridges and 73 percent of major roads are in poor to mediocre quality. That's why the state's infrastructure plays a critical role in keeping food security stabilized, according to researchers. Also: Phys.Org (Dec. 18), ScienceBlog (Dec. 18), WNIJ (NPR; from Illinois Public Radio; Dekalb, Ill., Jan. 5), Peoria Public Radio (NPR, Jan.5).