By Scout Nelson
The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has received a $19 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development to lead a global initiative aimed at helping small farmers in developing nations adopt sustainable irrigation and agricultural mechanization, particularly in light of projected global population growth of 10 billion by 2050.
The World Bank emphasizes the importance of irrigation and farming practices in meeting rising food demands. The initiative will address workforce training, private sector collaboration, public health, and climate sustainability, aiming to ensure resilience for farmers to weather challenges like climate shifts or economic uncertainties.
The initiative, led by Nicole Lefore, will involve 130 faculty fellows and partners like the Water, Climate, and Health program and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska, focusing on sustainable agricultural water management and the evolving role of women in farming, addressing interconnected challenges.
Countries like Nepal, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Honduras, and Guatemala are among the primary focus areas for this endeavor, along with broader regions in East and Southern Africa. Existing partners of the institute, such as the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Water Management Institute, will play a crucial role in this initiative.
Peter McCornick, the Executive Director of DWFI, shared his enthusiasm, emphasizing the significance of this investment for global smallholder agriculture. This sentiment was echoed by NU system President Ted Carter, who lauded the collective efforts of the university.
USAID has allocated $40 million in funding for a five-year program, part of the Feed the Future Innovation Labs, to tackle global food security and nutrition challenges, with potential for expansion.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Nebraska, Education