DWFI not only shares Nebraska knowledge globally, but also brings key stakeholders and partners from across the U.S. and foreign countries to Nebraska. Last fall, DWFI coordinated a farm visit for Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai as part of a visit to UNL. Chairman Pai toured a local farm and visited with Nebraska growers to discuss precision agriculture and ways to improve Internet connectivity to farms and rural communities.
The institute also hosted The State of Bahia Secretariat of Environment and researchers from the Federal University of Vicosa, Minas Gerais, to discuss smallholder irrigation projects, including developing a new training center for agricultural students and farmers in Brazil. This multi-partner collaboration could result in a significant impact if the introduction of a new form of groundwater governance and development of additional irrigated areas results in economic investment in the region.