Annual Report 2025

At the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, our mission is simple: to ensure a sustainable future where everyone has access to nutritious food and clean water. Leveraging the state of Nebraska’s living laboratory of rich agricultural landscape, world-class University research, and well-managed water resources, the institute is well positioned to explore holistic approaches to high-productivity agriculture, smallholder farming, water quality, and environmental and human health.

With the support and expertise of our partners who amplify and accelerate our work, we continue to make great strides toward our mission.

This report showcases the collaborative spirit, impactful research, and dedicated outreach that continue to position the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute as a leading force in creating a water- and food-secure world for all.

Letter from the Executive Director

As I conclude my time as Executive Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, it is with pride and gratitude that I share some key highlights from our FY25 Annual Report. Our progress over the past year demonstrates our steadfast commitment to a water- and food-secure world.

We reached a significant milestone this year, celebrating 15 years of the Institute's impact since it was established by the vision and generosity of irrigation pioneer Bob Daugherty in 2010. This anniversary reflects our institute’s legacy and the University of Nebraska’s sustained leadership in agricultural water management, anchored in innovative research, strategic collaborations, and impactful programs. Our Nebraska roots remain central to our success. We leverage the state’s expertise and collaborative spirit in agriculture and water management while creating new partnerships, opportunities and technologies to benefit Nebraska and beyond.

Message from the Executive Director

Message from the Executive Director

About the Institute

A Decade of Leadership Honoring Peter McCornicks Legacy

Celebrating 15 years of the Institutes Impact

Global Thought Leadership

Program Highlights

Faculty Fellow Expertise

Summary of Outputs

Resources

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute Fund

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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

DWFI is recognized for its expertise in the sustainable scaling and development of productive smallholder agriculture. This includes research in water management, as well as the ecosystems of policy, finance, and business that enable smallholder farming to thrive. Through collaborations and strategic partnerships, DWFI supports the development of agricultural climate resiliency among the most vulnerable; provides capacity building and professional development to local partners; creates new equitable livelihood opportunities; and increases 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.

Annual Report 2025