Irrigation’s Role in Ensuring Global Food Security
Luke Reynolds
Irrigation Association
Program Contact
Dr. Kathleen Boomer
kboomer@foundationfar.org
Development Contact
Catherine Maxwell
cmaxwell@foundationfar.org
Maintaining an adequate supply of clean water represents one of the most significant challenges of the 21st Century. Agriculture accounts for more than 80 percent of water consumption and more than 50 percent of excess nutrient loads to our coastal waterways, thereby also threatening our fisheries and exacerbating human health concerns. Agriculture’s challenge to meet growing food demand while managing drought, flood and water quality risks under changing climate conditions demands audacious solutions.
Advances in sustainable water management are essential to achieving agricultural goals. Innovative engineering practices customized to local field conditions are essential to minimizing water demand, increasing terrestrial water storage and improving water quality while also enhancing crop production.
Our research programs promote stakeholder engagement with interdisciplinary scientific experts to advance precision agriculture and increase conservation practice adoption.
Congress established FFAR to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement USDA’s research agenda. Our public-private partnerships match federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment.
Our Sustainable Water Management programs advance agricultural conservation practices to protect our vital water resources while addressing cost and infrastructure concerns.
Year Awarded 2023
FFAR award amount $120,238
Total award amount $246,924
Location Columbus, OH
Program Achieving Conservation Through Targeted Information, Outreach and Networking (ACTION) Program
Matching Funders Walton Family Foundation
Grantee Institution The Ohio State University
Year Awarded 2023
FFAR award amount $127,676
Total award amount $262,200
Location Sparta, WI
Program Achieving Conservation Through Targeted Information, Outreach and Networking (ACTION) Program
Matching Funders Walton Family Foundation
Grantee Institution University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Year Awarded 2023
FFAR award amount $226,636
Total award amount $480,426
Location Ames, IA
Program Achieving Conservation Through Targeted Information, Outreach and Networking (ACTION) Program
Matching Funders Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition, Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, Walton Family Foundation
Grantee Institution Iowa State University
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