Renata Rimšaitė

Renata Rimšaitė (she/her) is an applied economist with expertise in water management policy. As a senior program manager, Renata oversees programs that focus on food and water security advancement. She is particularly interested in emerging research and engagement areas around intersections between agricultural water use, sustainable finance, climate change, and public health. Renata is especially excited about building new relationships and advancing existing partnerships and collaborations with internal teams across the University of Nebraska system, as well as with external stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

Originally, Renata is from Lithuania. She holds a doctorate in Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Economics (Pennsylvania State University), a bachelor’s degree in Economics (Frostburg State University), and a bachelor’s degree in Law (Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania).

Responsibilities:

• Develop, manage, and oversee programs focusing on improving food and water security
• Advance research and engagement efforts around intersections between agricultural water use, climate change, sustainable finance, and public health
• Build new relationships and advance existing partnerships and collaborations with internal teams across the University of Nebraska system and with external stakeholders in the public and private sectors
• Lead, manage, and support cross-functional teams of faculty, staff, and students
• Provide support for student education and engagement programs

Output:

Selected Publications

Journal articles, book chapters, reports

D. Harshanee Jayasekera, Renata Rimšaitė and Jesse E. Bell, August 2023. “Nitrate Contamination in Drinking Water.” The Actuary, https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/nitrate-contamination-in-drinking-water/.

Renata Rimšaitė and Nicholas Brozović, 2023. “Groundwater development paths in the U.S. High Plains.” Oxford Encyclopedia of Water Resources Management and Planning. Oxford University Press, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.013.832.

Renata Rimšaitė and Nicholas Brozović, 2023. “Groundwater Transfers in Nebraska.” Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/dwfi/resource-documents/reports-and-working-papers/groundwater-transfers-in-nebraska.pdf.

Garrick, D., Balasubramanya, S., Beresford, M., Wutich, A., Gilson, G.G., Jorgensen, I., Brozović, N., Cox, M., Dai, X., Erfurth, S., Rimšaitė, R., Svensson, J., Jones, J.T., Unnikrishnan, H., Wight, C., Villamayor-Tomas, S., and Mendoza, K.V., 2023. “A systems perspective on water markets: barriers, bright spots, and building blocks for the next generation.” Environmental Research Letters, 18(3), https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acb227.

Renata Rimšaitė, Nick Brozović, Sarah Munezero, and Frances Hayes, September 2022. “Statewide groundwater management through local conservation districts” Case study 6: United States (Nebraska), World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/sustainable-groundwater-management-for-agriculture.

Oamek, G., and R. Rimsaite, 2021. "Economic impact of the irrigation equipment and services industry." Irrigation Association and Irrigation Innovation Consortium, https://www.irrigation.org/IA/Advocacy/Research-Reports/Economic-Impact-Study/IA/Advocacy/Economic-Impact-Study.aspx.

Rimsaite, R., Gibson, J., & Brozović, N., 2021. "Informing drought mitigation policy by estimating the value of water for crop production." Environmental Research Communications, 3(4), https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/abf160.

Rimsaite, R., Fisher-Vanden, K., Olmstead, S., and Grogan, D. S., 2021."How well do US western water markets convey economic information?" Land Economics, 97(1) 1-16; https://doi.org/10.3368/wple.97.1.050719-0061R.

Rimsaite, R. and Kreye, M.M., 2021. "Assessing the value extension adds to decision making among natural resource leaders." Journal of Extension, 59(1). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1294357.

Kreye, M. M., Adams, D. C., Soto, J. R., Tanner, S., and Rimsaite, R.,2021. "Economic and ethical motivations for forest restoration and incentive payments." Society & Natural Resources, 34(8). https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2021.1938320.

Selected Multimedia

Infographics, blogs, newsletters

Williss R., Rimšaitė R., Melkani A., Brozović N., 2023. “Agricultural Water Use.” Infographic series, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/our-work/research-and-policy/agricultural-water-use.

R. Rimšaitė and N. Brozović, September 2022. “Agricultural Groundwater Transfers in Nebraska: Decision Process for Buyers & Sellers.” Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/dwfi/resource-documents/institute-resources/agricultural-groundwater-transfers-in-nebraska.pdf.

R. Rimsaite, S. Munezero, and N. Brozović, 2021-2022. “Transferring groundwater in the High Plains.” Infographic series, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/our-work/research-and-policy/transferring-groundwater-in-the-high-plains.

Renata Rimšaitė, (ed.), 2020-2022. “Drought, Water, Health and Economics.” Monthly newsletter, Issue 19, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, https://conta.cc/3DG3mRs.

Renata Rimšaitė and Nick Brozović, April 2021. A blog, "Experiences using economic incentives to support the Platte River ecosystem." Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2021/04/experiences-using-economic-incentives-to-support-the-platte-river-ecosystem.

Videos and podcasts

LinkedIn video clip about Nebraska’s water transfers and management. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, September 2023, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/waterforfood_watertransfers-watermanagement-drought-activity-7103044700126814210-nqUO?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop.

LinkedIn video clip about incentive-based water management. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, August 2023, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/waterforfood_incentivebased-watermanagement-watermarkets-activity-7101956863428096001-okfQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop.

YouTube video interview with interns Ally Barry and Ornella Uwayo Keza. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, February 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvgLj18e7u4.

A podcast about incentive-based water management. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, October 2022, https://dwffpodcast.libsyn.com/18-renata-rimait-dwfi-and-national-drought-mitigation-center.

YouTube video interview with intern Sarah Munezero. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neFQUHteG40.

Selected Presentations and Engagements

“Irrigation’s role in sustaining value and mitigating risk.” Panelist at the Irrigation Association webinar, July 26 2023, Lincoln, NE.

“Water markets: Groundwater transfers in Nebraska.” Invited guest speaker at the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, July 14 2023, Scottsbluff, NE.

“From policies to practice: Solutions to strengthen global to local drought risk management.” Panelist at the Water for Food Global Conference, May 8 2023, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, Lincoln, NE.

“Environmental Roundtable.” Panelist at the student government event, April 26 2023, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“Science & Innovation: Future of Water.” Presenter and moderator for the Earth Day Spring Digital Meeting, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, April 20 2023, Lincoln, NE.

“Using incentive-based management tools to help achieve groundwater sustainability goals.” Seminar at the Agronomy and Horticulture Seminar Series, Nov 18 2022, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“How does Nebraska’s water policy compare to other regions in the US?” Invited guest speaker at the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, Nov 17 2022, Nebraska City, NE.

“Ag irrigation's role in risk and sustainable water management.” Virtual workshop co-organizer and co-facilitator. Irrigation Innovation Consortium, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, National Drought Mitigation Center, Nov 9 2022, Lincoln, NE.

“Agricultural water risk. Sustainability-linked finance in agriculture.” Presentation at the Conservation Finance Roundtable, Nov 3 2022, Durham, NC.

“Agricultural groundwater transfers in the High Plains.” Presentation at the Sustain Valencia 2022 conference, Oct 8 2022, Valencia, Spain.

"State of local water markets in agriculture: a Nebraska case study." Panelist at virtual Water for Food Global Forum, Oct 28 2021, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, Lincoln, NE.

"Experiences using economic incentives to support the Platte River ecosystem." Virtual workshop organizer and facilitator, April 8 2021, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, Lincoln, NE.

"Increasing representation one step at a time." Presentation about the Diversity & Inclusion Committee's work at the School of Natural Resources Winter Seminar Series, Jan 28 2021, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"Informing drought mitigation policy by estimating the value of water for crop production." Presentation at the School of Natural Resources Summer Seminar Series, June 17 2020, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.