Initial participants are working to create a platform for other universities, federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service and the private sector to work together on the critical water challenges facing agriculture, municipalities and industry. The goal is to create an internationally recognized, self-sustaining center of excellence that promotes and enhances water and energy efficiency in irrigation, ultimately creating greater resiliency in food and irrigated landscape systems.
“The IA thanks FFAR and the university partners for their leadership in the creation of the new Irrigation Innovation Consortium,” said IA’s CEO Deborah M. Hamlin, CAE, FASAE. “We are confident that the research stemming from this collaborative effort will drive new advancements in efficient irrigation and keep the irrigation industry at the forefront of innovation.”
Specific research priorities will be determined by an executive committee, with representation from FFAR and academic and industry consortium participants. Irrigation industry involvement will help accelerate research and development for rapid application in the field.
Knowledge gained will be shared publicly through publications, workshops and seminars and appropriate data-sharing mechanisms.
Plans for the consortium began at a FFAR-hosted convening event held at the Daugherty Water for Food Institute’s Global Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska in April 2017. Approximately 25 representatives of private companies participated in the discussion, which helped shape the initial research focus of the consortium.
Organizations interested in joining the Irrigation Innovation Consortium are invited to contact Stephen Smith, Ph.D., executive director of the Irrigation Innovation Consortium and FFAR advisory council member: swsmith@buenavidafarm.com.
The Irrigation Innovation Consortium is being formally launched today at the Water in the West Symposium hosted by Colorado State University.
Press Contacts
Madeleine O’Connor
Director of Communications and Federal Relations
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
moconnor@foundationfar.org
202.590.7613
Anne Blankenbiller
Senior Communications Manager
Irrigation Association
media@irrigation.org
402.417.4508
Melissa Harvey
Marketing and Communications Specialist
KCARE: Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment
785.477.4540
Emily Hardie
Director of Marketing- Irrigation and Corporate
Lindsay Corporation
emily.hardie@lindsay.com
402.829.6805
About the Partners
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.
Connect: @FoundationFAR | @RockTalking
Center for Irrigation Technology at Fresno State
The Center for Irrigation Technology is part of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State and one of several water research organizations that include the California Water Institute and the International Center for Water Technology.
Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska
The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI) was founded in 2010 to address the global challenge of achieving food security with less stress on water resources through improved water management in agricultural and food systems. We are committed to ensuring a water and food secure world while maintaining the use of water for other vital human and environmental needs.
The DWFI is one of four interdisciplinary, University-wide institutes at the University of Nebraska, leveraging talent and research-based expertise from across the four campus system to focus on complex state, national and global challenges.
Learn more at waterforfood.nebraska.edu/.
Jain Irrigation
Our Company, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited (JISL) with it’s motto ‘Small Ideas, Big Revolutions’ with more than 10,500+ associates worldwide and revenue of ∼USD 1 Billion, is an Indian multinational company with manufacturing plants in 30 locations across the globe. JISL, its subsidiaries and associates are engaged in providing solutions in agriculture, piping, infrastructure through manufacturing of Micro Irrigation Systems, PVC Pipes, HDPE Pipes, Plastic Sheets, Agro Processed Products, Renewable Energy Solutions, Tissue Culture Plants, Financial Services and other agricultural inputs since more than 34 years. It has pioneered a silent Productivity Revolution with modern irrigation systems and innovative technologies in order to save precious water and has helped to get significant increase in crop yields, especially for more than 6 million small farmers. It has also ushered in new concept of large scale Integrated Irrigation Projects (IIP). ‘More Crop Per Drop™’ is the company’s approach to water security and food security.
JISL is early pioneer for IOT in the agri–sector and is leading efforts to create global solutions with precision agriculture. It’s food brand ‘Jain FarmFresh’ is well known all over the world for quality and consistency.
All the products and services of JISL help create a sustainable future while fulfilling its vision to ‘Leave this world better than you found it’.
Website – https://www.jainsusa.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/JainsUSA
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jainsusa/
Kansas State University Research and Extension
K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.
Lindsay Corporation
Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN) is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology. Established in 1955, the company has been at the forefront of research and development of innovative solutions to meet the food, fuel, fiber and transportation needs of the world’s rapidly growing population. Lindsay manufactures center pivot and lateral move agricultural irrigation systems and technologies irrigating approximately 12 million acres (4.8 million hectares) in over 90 countries, through its worldwide network of more than 350 dealers. The Lindsay family of irrigation brands includes Zimmatic® and FieldNET® as well as irrigation consulting, design, pump and filtration offerings, advanced machine-to-machine communication, remote control and monitoring technology and wireless networking solutions. Also a global leader in the transportation industry, Lindsay Transportation Solutions manufactures equipment to improve road safety and keep traffic moving on the world’s roads, bridges and tunnels, through the Barrier Systems®, Road Zipper® and Snoline™ brands. For more information about Lindsay Corporation, visit www.Lindsay.com.
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the state’s premier research and technology development agency in agriculture, natural resources and the life sciences. Headquartered in College Station, AgriLife Research has a statewide presence, with scientists and research staff on other Texas A&M University System campuses and at the 13 regional Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers. We conduct more than 500 projects each year, with more than $202.5 million in research funding in 2015. AgriLife Research helps to improve the productivity, efficiency and profitability of agriculture. At the same time, we focus on conserving natural resources and protecting the environment.