Sustainable Water Management
The Sustainable Water Management Challenge Area research enhances and protects natural waters to sustain agricultural production and environmental health.
Program Contact
Dr. Kathleen Boomer
kboomer@foundationfar.org
Development Contact
Catherine Maxwell
cmaxwell@foundationfar.org
Our research focuses on:
- Characterizing threats to ground and surface water
- Developing cost-effective technology to mitigate threats
- Advancing models to improve decision support and management under changing climate conditions
- Increasing stakeholder adoption of conservation water management practices
- Integrating long-term water monitoring programs and new research projects to improve agricultural management
Learn more about our Sustainable Water Management research goals.
Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Water Management supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 17 global goals to enhance peace and prosperity, eradicate poverty and protect the environment. Specifically, this research bolsters the following SDGs:
Why Are We Tackling Water Management Challenges?
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.
We Pioneer Sustainable Water Management
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.
Learn more about our Sustainable Water Management grants, programs and consortium.
Sustainable Water Management Awarded Grants
FFAR Grant Promotes Integrated Soil and Water Research to Support Dairy Industry Commitment to Sustainability
Awarded Amount $10,000,000
Year 2022
Matching Funders Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), Newtrient and other Net Zero Initiative partners
See all Sustainable Water Management Awarded Grants
Sustainable Water Management Grant Programs
Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research
Achieving Conservation Through Targeted Information, Outreach and Networking (ACTION) Program
Sustainable Water Management Consortium
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