President, University of Nebraska
Nebraskans’ collaborative spirit – our recognition that we need to work together to solve the grand challenges – is at the top of the list.
That spirit informed the creation of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute a decade ago. Today, that collaborative spirit continues to shine through as the Daugherty Institute and partners across our state and world work hand-in-hand to feed a rapidly growing population.
The institute’s growth in 10 short years has been impressive. What began as a vision to marshal the talents of experts from the University of Nebraska, governments, nonprofits and farming and ranching to tackle one of the world’s most urgent and complex challenges has turned into a global network of partners whose collective impact is changing lives every day.
Our conferences and events have engaged diverse and interdisciplinary teams of experts, all working toward a common goal. Our exchange programs have allowed faculty, staff and students from around the globe to study with and learn from each other. Our collaborative research has greatly advanced our understanding of water use in agriculture and has led to new strategies for feeding an increasingly hungry world.
I’m grateful to my University of Nebraska colleagues and our partners who have been a part of this effort, to the philanthropic community who invested in our vision from the start – and, especially, to the farmers and ranchers in Nebraska and around the world who do the hard work every day to put food on our tables.
The urgency of the Daugherty Institute’s mission has only grown. Too many of our fellow humans still face hunger, thirst and poverty. The future health and wellbeing of our global population demands creative, collaborative solutions.
The University of Nebraska, through the Daugherty Institute, is proud to play a leading role. I look forward to seeing what we will achieve together in our next 10 years.
President, University of Nebraska