Program Highlights
The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute takes a systems-based, interdisciplinary approach to three focus areas:
- Water management for high-productivity commercial agriculture
- Smallholder agricultural water management
- Environmental and human health in agricultural systems
The following sections highlight key projects and progress in each of these areas over the past year.
Water management for high-productivity commercial agriculture
The institute is a trusted expert in technology and management practices related to high-productivity commercial agriculture. We innovate practices, technologies and decision support systems that can be applied and integrated into water-wise and climate-smart agricultural systems that are both productive and sustainable.
Smallholder agricultural water management
The institute has growing recognition for its expertise in understanding and strengthening the sustainable scaling of productive smallholder agriculture. This includes research on improved water management and enabling the finance, business, and policy environment. Through our collaborations and strategic partnerships, we support the development of resilient agricultural systems that protect those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and other shocks; provide capacity building and professional development to local partners; create new equitable livelihood opportunities; and increase nutritional security at the household, community and national levels.
Environmental and human health in agricultural systems
The institute works to ensure that efforts to improve water and food security also advance public health and protect ecosystem integrity, drawing on the university’s leadership in regenerative agriculture, natural resources management, water stewardship, water quality analysis, drought mitigation, nutrition and public health. We collaborate with internal and external partners to increase our knowledge regarding the challenge of water quality degradation in Nebraska and elsewhere in the world. This includes collecting and analyzing water quality samples; characterizing the issues using the best available scientific knowledge and tools; developing and testing potential solutions in at-risk areas; understanding the relationship between water quality and potential health issues; and studying the interconnections between water related shocks and human health. We will continue to support and convene events, address questions from stakeholders and facilitate constructive dialogue.
Top image caption
DWFI Director of Research Christopher Neale introduces Nebraska producers to a delegation from Parana, Brazil.
Credit: DWFI
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