Steve Long

Steve Long is a Professor and Ikenberry Endowed University Chair of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds the Center for Advanced Studies Professorship and leads the RIPE project, focusing on enhancing crop productivity through photosynthetic efficiency improvements. His research spans synthetic bioengineering, climate change impacts on agriculture, and bioenergy crop development. He earned his Ph.D. in Plant Sciences (Leeds University, 1976) and B.Sc. in Agricultural Botany (Reading University, 1972), with an honorary D.Sc. from Lancaster University (2007).

Long’s work emphasizes translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions for global food security and sustainable energy. He directs the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) initiative, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and serves as Chief Editor of Global Change Biology. His research explores how rising CO2 and temperature affect crops, with studies simulating future climate conditions through Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiments.

Key areas of focus include optimizing photosynthesis in C3 and C4 crops, improving water-use efficiency, and developing climate-resilient varieties. His lab investigates genetic and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis, with recent breakthroughs in accelerating recovery from photoprotection to boost yields. Collaborations span institutions globally, including UC Berkeley, BP Energy Biosciences Institute, and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Long has received prestigious recognitions such as Fellowship in the Royal Society (FRS) and an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex. He chairs the Gates Foundation’s crop photosynthesis initiative and advises the EU’s Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture and Climate Change. His team includes graduate students and postdoctoral researchers advancing interdisciplinary plant science.