Dr. Madhu Khanna, ACES Distinguished Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, delivered the annual Filley-Garey Lecture, hosted by the Department of Agricultural Economics at Nebraska, on April 10, 2026.

Dr. Khanna is a globally recognized leader in agricultural, energy, and environmental economics. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and has authored more than 180 peer-reviewed publications. Her extensive service includes a decade on the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leadership roles with the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (including serving as President), and board service with multiple international organizations. She is a fellow of both AAEA and the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.

Abstract:

Transforming today’s economic system from a linear “take-make-waste” model to a circular bioeconomy—focused on reducing, recycling, recovering, reusing, and regenerating resources—has emerged as a critical strategy for meeting global food and fuel demands sustainably. While this transition is widely viewed as essential, Dr. Khanna emphasizes the need to move beyond purely technological solutions. Her lecture will explore how economic frameworks can help balance the costs, benefits, and broader environmental and societal impacts of circular systems. She will also discuss the mechanisms sustaining the current linear economy, potential pathways toward a circular bioeconomy, and the policy decisions required in a decentralized market system.

The Filley-Garey Lecture is a longstanding tradition that brings leading scholars to campus to engage with students, faculty, and the public on pressing issues in agricultural and environmental economics.

Learn how a cooperative model can address childcare opportunities and challenges in Nebraska. During the webinar you will hear about common cooperative structures as well as reasons this model has been successful. In addition, you will learn the reason the Norfolk Area Childcare Collaborative, recently formed as an employer-assisted entity following the cooperative structure.

With:

Beth Shashikant, Project Manager, Norfolk Area Childcare Collaborative

Tammy Day, Steering Team Lead and Business Manager, Daycos

Charlotte Narjes, Director, Nebraska Cooperative Development Center

Cindy Houlden, Cooperative Development Specialist, Nebraska Cooperative Development Center

Find out more about the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center at https://ncdc.unl.edu.

This webinar will talk about a recent study exploring food deserts in Nebraska. The USDA provides a definition for food deserts based on accessibility and affordability. The USDA definition measures affordability based on income alone. We modify the affordability criterion to include a measure of spending potential relevant to rural Nebraska consumers. Many remedies exist that can influence food retail markets. Among these are public policy, corporate-based, and those pursued by communities. Learn about potential solutions to address.

See the study at https://ncdc.unl.edu/Documents/Food%20desert%20results_Sept%202024.pdf

https://ncdc.unl.edu

Children's Center of the Stanford Community - California.

https://ncdc.unl.edu.

Child Space Day Care Center - Pennsylvania

More at https://ncdc.unl.edu

Energy Capital Cooperative Childcare - North Dakota

More at https://ncdc.unl.edu.

Montessori Coop School - Nebraska

More at https://ncdc.unl.edu

Grocery Cooperative Business Planner video 7/7" Operations - Financial Tab. More at https://ncdc.unl.edu.

Grocery Cooperative Business Planner video 6/7: Operations - Department Tabs. More at https://ncdc.unl.edu.