It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the
passing of Stephen Patrick Long, FRS, a brilliant mind and kind
spirit, who left us on September 9, 2025 at the age of 75 after an
18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. His pioneering work in
plant biology and crop science leaves an enduring legacy on global
efforts to enhance food security and confront climate change.
Born in London on August 13, 1950, Steve often recalled how a
dedicated teacher, Ms. Muriel Hoskins, sparked his fascination with
plants, sharing how lessons of the famines of the 1960s in the
Global South ignited a lifelong passion to ensure a better world
around him and a commitment to increasing agricultural productivity
for the greater good. This pledge deepened as a teacher himself in
both Kenya and India with the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) during the 1970s and 1980s, experiences that
profoundly shaped his global outlook and therefore his research
agenda. He earned his Bachelors of Science in agricultural botany
from Reading University in 1972, his Ph.D. from Leeds University in
1976, and honorary doctorates from Lancaster University in 2007
and the University of Essex in 2023.
Steve's distinguished academic career spanned leading roles at the
University of Essex and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
(UIUC), starting in 1999 with endowed professorships in Plant
Biology and Crop sciences. Widely regarded as one of the most
highly cited scientists of his generation, he authored more than 400
publications on photosynthesis, plant physiology, and the impact of
climate change on agriculture. He was a driving force behind
SoyFACE, a pioneering open-air laboratory for studying climate
change effects on crops, and he directed the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation's RIPE project that achieved a landmark 20% increase

in crop yields through photosynthetic engineering, a breakthrough
hailed as one of the century's most significant advances in
agricultural science.
His scientific leadership earned him membership into the Royal
Society, the US National Academy of Sciences, and honors such as
the 2025 World Food Prize Top Agri-Food Pioneer Award. He
briefed world leaders including President George W. Bush, Princess
Anne, and Pope Benedict XVI on food security and bioenergy, and
in 2017 he was the Newton Abraham Visiting Professor at the
University of Oxford and a Fellow of Lincoln College. His legacy is
not just in the research papers or accolades, but in the many lives
he touched, mentoring and inspiring a new generation of scientists
to continue his important work in making the world a better place.
His former students and collaborators now lead major research
initiatives worldwide.
For all his professional renown, those who knew him often
shared stories of his healthy sense of humor, a warmth about
him, and ability to find joy in the simplest moments. He attended
his immunotherapy infusions on Halloween 2024 dressed as a
pharaoh and loved to send his children and grandchildren photos
of their stuffed animals posed as using laptops and other
relatable scenarios. He was an active and involved grandfather,
or 'papa' as fondly called, teaching his grandchildren to swim,
taking them fishing, helping with homework, building Legos, and
cheering them on in all their academic achievements.
Steve's devotion to making each day count extended to every part
of his life, and his commitment to food security was matched only
by his dedication to the well-being of his family. He was a beloved

husband, father, and grandfather, survived by his wife of 53 years,
Ann; his two sons, James and Patrick; his daughters-in-law,
Charlotte and Oluchi; five grandchildren—Andrew, Landon, Clara,
Luke, and Jace; and his older brother, David, and older sister, Janet
(Tyler). He was preceded in death by his loving and encouraging
parents, Frederick and Amy. A gifted athlete, he qualified for the
Boston Marathon multiple times after the age of fifty, completing the
race twice. He and his wife were passionate supporters of the arts,
especially classical music, and he was a dedicated patron of the
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, recognizing its vital role in
the cultural life of the community.
Steve's brilliance and dedication as a scientist and belief that
science should serve humanity, his commitment as a mentor for
the next generation, and his joy as a husband, father, grandfather,
brother, and friend will continue to inspire us to embrace life with
resilience, humor, and love. He will be greatly missed and forever
in our hearts.
At Steve's request, a private family memorial service will be held in
the near future. An academic symposium honoring his life and
professional contributions will take place on November 3rd, 2025,
with a Celebration of Life planned for friends, colleagues and
extended family in Spring 2026. Details of the celebration of life
event will be shared later.