DWFI Annual Report highlights 15 years of global strides in water and food security – thefencepost.com

Annual Report on the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute’s Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska has released its annual report, detailing significant progress in research, capacity building, and global leadership. The Institute’s work is directly aligned with achieving a water- and food-secure future, making substantial contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). This report outlines key outcomes from the Institute’s three core focus areas and their impact on the global sustainability agenda.

Key Outcomes and Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Water Management for High-Productivity Commercial Agriculture

The Institute has advanced climate-smart agriculture by developing and implementing innovative water-efficient technologies and decision support systems. These efforts are crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture and ensuring responsible production, directly supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• DAWN Project: Nearing completion, this project provides U.S. Corn Belt farmers with data for informed decision-making, enhancing profitability and sustainability in line with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Flux Tower Network Expansion: Expansion into the Upper Colorado River Basin provides critical data for optimizing irrigation, contributing to efficient water use as outlined in SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• USDA Model Refinement: Enhanced models for corn and soy provide producers with precise water-need data, bridging the gap between research and practical application to support SDG 2.

2. Sustainable Smallholder Agricultural Water Management

Recognizing that smallholder farmers are critical to global food production, DWFI has focused on improving their access to water and building climate resilience. This work addresses fundamental issues of poverty, inequality, and food security, aligning with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• Irrigation as a Service (IaaS): A new grant from the Gates Foundation will expand IaaS in sub-Saharan Africa, a scalable solution to make irrigation more accessible and affordable for smallholders, directly advancing SDG 1 and SDG 6.
• Entrepreneurial Collaboration: DWFI convened business entrepreneurs from seven nations to foster collaboration on nuanced smallholder irrigation solutions, promoting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Scalability Research: The publication of new reports on the costs and scalability of IaaS business models provides a framework for sustainable economic development in developing regions.

3. Environmental and Human Health in Agricultural Systems

DWFI has deepened its focus on the nexus of water, the environment, and human health, ensuring agricultural practices contribute positively to ecological and societal well-being. These initiatives support SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• BioWRAP Project: This project is developing a method to convert chicken feather waste into spray-on bioplastics. This innovation offers a sustainable solution for soil protection, weed control, and water management, exemplifying the principles of a circular economy as targeted by SDG 12.
• Water, Climate and Health Program: Research into irrigation’s effects on heat stress and public health in the U.S. Great Plains utilizes Earth observations to improve environmental health outcomes, contributing directly to SDG 3 and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Cross-Cutting Themes: Education and Global Partnerships

DWFI integrates education, capacity building, and global collaboration throughout its initiatives, fostering the next generation of leaders and ensuring a coordinated global response to water and food security challenges. This commitment underpins SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. Faculty and Student Support: The Institute welcomed eight new faculty fellows, expanding its network to over 130 University of Nebraska faculty, and supported 28 students in mission-relevant research, thereby building human capital in critical sectors.
2. Global Convening: The 2025 Water for Food Global Conference brought together 350 thought leaders from nearly 30 countries, strengthening global partnerships to achieve shared sustainability objectives.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on the “escalated need for food and nutrition security under mounting population pressure.” The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) mission is to achieve a “food-secure future for all.” Its initiatives, such as supporting smallholder farmers who “produce a large share of the world’s food,” and improving productivity for commercial agriculture, are central to ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This goal is a core theme of the article. DWFI’s work revolves around “Water management for high-productivity commercial agriculture” and “Sustainable Smallholder Agricultural Water Management.” The institute focuses on “water-wise technologies,” helping producers “improve efficiency” in water use, and providing “accurate data on precise water needs” for crops. This directly relates to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article highlights the role of research and innovation in achieving food and water security. DWFI is “innovating and implementing water-wise technologies and decision support systems,” such as the DAWN project and refined USDA models. The development of new technologies like “spray-on bioplastics” from waste also points to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This goal is addressed through the focus on resource efficiency and waste reduction. The “BioWRAP project,” which works to “repurpose chicken feather waste into spray-on bioplastics,” is a clear example of creating a circular economy solution within agriculture, thereby promoting sustainable production patterns.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article emphasizes building resilience to climate change. DWFI’s expertise in “climate-smart agriculture” and its goal to “build resilience” for farmers are direct actions to combat climate change and its impacts. The institute’s work helps farmers adapt to climate-related risks, such as water scarcity and heat stress.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article underscores the importance of collaboration. DWFI “leveraged… private sector partnerships,” received a “new Gates Foundation grant,” and “brought together business entrepreneurs from seven countries.” The annual conference convened “350 thought leaders from nearly 30 countries,” demonstrating a commitment to multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.

  The article’s focus on “Sustainable Smallholder Agricultural Water Management” and expanding “Irrigation as a Service (IaaS) in sub-Saharan Africa” aims to make irrigation “more accessible to smallholder farmers,” which is a key factor in increasing their productivity and resilience.

• Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.

  The institute’s work on “climate-smart agriculture,” developing “water-wise technologies,” and helping U.S. Corn Belt farmers increase “profitability and sustainability” directly supports the implementation of resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals of freshwater.

  This is a central theme. DWFI’s efforts to “help producers improve efficiency,” expand its “flux tower network… for optimizing irrigation,” and refine models to give producers “more accurate data on precise water needs” are all aimed at increasing water-use efficiency in agriculture.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries.

  The article details DWFI’s role in “critical research,” “innovating and implementing water-wise technologies and decision support systems,” and refining “USDA models for crops like corn and soy.” Supporting “28 students conducting mission-relevant research” also contributes to enhancing scientific research capacity.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

  The “BioWRAP project” is a direct example of this target in action, as it is “working to repurpose chicken feather waste into spray-on bioplastics,” turning an agricultural waste product into a valuable, sustainable resource.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

  The institute’s focus on “climate-smart agriculture” and its work to “reduce risk, and build resilience” for farmers directly addresses the need to strengthen adaptive capacity to climate challenges like water scarcity and extreme weather events.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

  The article provides multiple examples of such partnerships, including collaborations with the “University of Nebraska,” “private sector partnerships,” a “Gates Foundation grant,” and convening events that bring together “business entrepreneurs from seven countries” and “thought leaders from nearly 30 countries.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Implied Indicator for Target 2.3: The number of smallholder farmers with access to improved irrigation services.

  The article mentions the goal to “expand Irrigation as a Service (IaaS) in sub-Saharan Africa.” Tracking the number of farmers reached by this service would be a direct measure of progress.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Implied Indicator for Target 6.4: Change in water-use efficiency in agriculture.

  The article discusses tools that “help producers improve efficiency” and provide “accurate data on precise water needs.” The data from the “flux tower network” and refined models could be used to measure improvements in water efficiency (e.g., crop yield per unit of water used).

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Implied Indicator for Target 9.5: Number of researchers and students engaged in water and food security research.

  The article explicitly states that DWFI “welcomed eight new faculty fellows” and “supported 28 students conducting mission-relevant research,” providing quantifiable metrics for capacity building in research and innovation.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Implied Indicator for Target 12.5: Volume of agricultural waste repurposed.

  The BioWRAP project’s goal is to “repurpose chicken feather waste.” Measuring the amount of this waste that is successfully converted into bioplastics would serve as an indicator for waste reduction and reuse.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: Number and diversity of partners engaged in collaborative initiatives.

  The article provides concrete numbers that can be used as indicators, such as “350 thought leaders from nearly 30 countries” at a conference and collaborations with “business entrepreneurs from seven countries,” which demonstrate the scale and scope of partnerships being fostered.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

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