Daugherty Water for Food Podcast

34 - Impacts of climate change in the US

The Fifth National Climate Assessment is federally mandated by Congress and released every four years to serve as the foremost review of research on the current and future impacts of climate change in the United States.   In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, DWFI Director of Communications and Public Relations Frances Hayes discusses key findings of the report with three of its co-authors. DWFI Faculty Fellows Andrea Basche and Tonya Haigh co-authored the Northern Great Plai...

33 - Aakanksha Melkani, DWFI

Aakanksha Melkani, a postdoctoral research associate at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, researches the economic implications of drought in the United States, specifically on agricultural sectors. In this edition of the Water for Food Podcast, we are sharing an episode of Nebraska on Tap, a podcast produced by the Middle Republican Natural Resources District in Nebraska. Host of the show, Heather Dizmang, discusses Aakansha’s findings so far, as well as her time in Africa stud...

32 - The Melting Cryosphere and Food & Water Security

The Melting Cryosphere and Food & Water Security, with Randall Ritzema, Tika Gurung, and Nick Brozović A 2023 report called Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: An Outlook (HI-WISE), published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), was an urgent call for how disappearing snow and ice in the Hindu Kush Himalayas will impact water resources for nearly two billion people.  But the cryosphere exists elsewhere, too, as part of the ...

31 - Agriculture in Space with Yufeng Ge, Santosh Pitla and David Jones

Yufeng Ge, Santosh Pitla and David Jones have already conducted research in the areas of ag-relevant sensors for more efficient application of fertilizer and water, and the development of an autonomous planter capable of seeding a 5-acre field all on its own. But now they’ve set their sights quite a bit higher — growing food in space. The three biological systems engineering faculty at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, along with others on their research team, were awarded a two-year Grand...

30 - Marjan Kalmakhanova and Dan Snow

Since 2013, UNL Water Sciences Lab Director Dan Snow and other researchers in the University of Nebraska system (NU) have collaborated with faculty and students in Central Asian institutes to improve water quality research across the globe.  The purpose of this effort is to share NU’s knowledge and expertise in water quality research with a region that has limited resources and important water quality issues to address.   In this episode, guest host Ann Briggs, public relations and engag...

29 - Nicole Lefore, DWFI

DWFI was recently selected to lead USAID's Feed the Future Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems (ILIMS). In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, Nicole Lefore, the director of the new lab and the associate director of sustainable agriculture water management at DWFI, shares the purpose of USAID's overall Feed the Future initiative; how ILIMS will support smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries and how the lab can ultimately reduce global hunger, poverty and und...

28 - Ron Yoder - UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Ron Yoder is a pillar of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community and most recently served as the senior associate vice chancellor for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln ‘s (UNL’s) Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). In this episode, DWFI Director of Communication and Public Relations Frances Hayes talks with Ron about the important role he played in formation of DWFI more than 10 years ago. They also look back on Ron’s storied career on the eve of his retirement.   ...

27 - Dick Wolfe and Felicia Marcus - Water for Food

26 - Mure Agbonlahor and Louise Mabulo - Water for Food Conference

This is the second in our series of podcasts from the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference, May 8-11. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Mure Agbonlahor, who works at the African Union Commission as senior Policy Officer, and Louise Mabulo, chef, farmer, entrepreneur, and founder of The Cacao Project. 

25 - Soumya Balasubramanya - The World Bank

Soumya Balasubramanya, Senior Economist at The World Bank, was a speaker at the recent 2023 Global Water for Food Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. This is the first in a series of podcasts from the conference. 

24 - Ankit Chandra and Nick Brozović, DWFI - Agribusiness Matters

Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) Research Program Manager Ankit Chandra and Director of Policy Nick Brozović recently published research on “Entrepreneurial trends in the Indian agricultural water ecosystem” and the larger business landscape of agricultural water use and investments. In this edition of the Water for Food podcast, we are sharing an episode of Agribusiness Matters, hosted by Venky Ramachandranin, in which Ankit and Nick are interviewed about their latest research. Agr...

23 - Dan Snow – Water Sciences Lab Director

In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, Nebraska Water Center Public Relations and Engagement Coordinator Ann Briggs sits down with her colleague and Water Sciences Laboratory Director Dr. Dan Snow who shares his path to water quality research in Nebraska and beyond. They address known and emerging contaminants throughout the state, building international partnerships, and the importance of water quality research.

22 - Dave Aiken - Water Law and the Perkins County Canal

Dave Aiken is a DWFI faculty fellow and a professor of agricultural economics at UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His research areas include water law and policy, energy law, environmental law and global warming. In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes talks to Dave about water law, water legal histories, the South Platte River Compact, and context around the legislation to build the Perkins County Canal in Nebraska.  As background, the South Plat...

21 – Peter McCornick – A New Year at Water for Food

In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes discusses exciting projects coming out of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and what lies ahead in the upcoming year with Executive Director, Dr. Peter McCornick. McCornick leads the institute in delivering on its vision of a water and food secure world, building its partnerships and collaborations in Nebraska, nationally in the US, and other key food producing regions in the world. He is ...

20 - Christopher Neale, DWFI

20 – Christopher Neale – Remote sensing, water and agriculture In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) Director of Communications Frances Hayes sits down with her colleague and DWFI’s Director of Research Dr. Christopher Neale. Dr. Neale shares how his technical research translates to a more sustainable agricultural system through more precise use of water and savings for farmers. Dr. Neale joined DWFI in 2013 and oversees its resea...

19 - Renee San Souci, Member of the Omaha Tribe

Renee San Souci – Member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, DWFI Director of Communications Frances Hayes caught up with Renee San Souci at the 2022 Platte River Basin Conference in Kearney, Nebraska. Renee was a featured speaker at the conference, providing a tribal perspective on creating vibrant, resilient solutions for the future of the people and wildlife who depend on the Platte River. The Platte Rivers runs through Nebraska and is ...

18 - Renata Rimšaitė – DWFI and National Drought Mitigation Center

Renata Rimšaitė is a senior program manager with DWFI and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Renata studies incentive-based water management, including tools designed to motivate or incentivize water using or managing parties to modify the way they use water, not only because it is sustainable, but also because it's in their financial interest. Water markets is an example of incentive-based water management and can be used to provide flexibility and lower drought risk to crop growers. ...

17 - Karina Schoengold – UNL Agricultural Economics

DWFI Faculty Fellow Karina Schoengold is leading a $6 million, 4-year project to reduce the use of plastics, herbicides and associated environmental impacts in agricultural production. The use of plastics has been growing in agriculture over recent years to help increase productivity by limiting weeds, protecting growth and extending growing seasons. The team aims to create a bio-based material called BioWRAP (Bioplastics with Regenerative Agricultural Properties) which can be sprayed onto ...

16 - Erin Haacker - Nebraska Groundwater

Erin Haacker is a hydrogeologist and assistant professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. As Erin would say, her professional path has been a winding road. She has two bachelor’s degrees – zoology from the University of Montana and geology from University College Cork in Ireland. She ventured to Michigan State University for her Ph.D., double majoring in environmental science and policy and is now teaching in UNL’s Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences. Erin is interested in gro...

DWFI Podcast 16 - Erin Haacker - Nebraska Groundwater

Erin Haacker is a hydrogeologist and assistant professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. As Erin would say, her professional path has been a winding road. She has two bachelor’s degrees – zoology from the University of Montana and geology from University College Cork in Ireland. She ventured to Michigan State University for her Ph.D., double majoring in environmental science and policy and is now teaching in UNL’s Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences. Erin is interested in gro...

15 - Roric Paulman – Paulman Farms

Roric Paulman is a producer and owner of Paulman Farms, located just south of Sutherland, Nebraska and in the heart of the Ogallala Aquifer, comprised of both irrigated and rain fed farmland. The farm was established and harvested its first crop in 1985 and uses the latest on-farm technology to grow more than a dozen crops. It is one of two “smart farms” in Nebraska that DWFI and the Nebraska Water Center helped the University of Nebraska–Lincoln establish to test the real-world ability of i...

14 - Jackson Stansell – Sentinel Fertigation

Jackson Stansell is CEO and founder of Sentinel Fertigation, a Lincoln, Nebraska ag startup founded in 2021 that uses drone- and satellite-collected imagery to predict when a corn crop needs fertilization — saving growers money and reducing environmental impact. Jackson has a connection to the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. He received student support from the institute while working on his masters in agricultural engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Jackson is now ...

13 - DWFI Policy Team – Business Ecosystem in Rwanda

Of Rwanda’s roughly 600,000 hectares of irrigable land, only 10% is currently irrigated. With a more developed irrigation industry, farmers would be able to take advantage of three growing seasons, rather than one, enabling better food security and income. However, there are gaps in knowledge needed to advance the industry.  Seeking to make these advancements accessible, staff at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute have completed a study which maps and analyzes the business ecos...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - episode 12

Managed aquifer recharge can be an innovative way to both satisfy endangered species’ habitat restoration and benefit crop irrigators in the area. This is exactly how it was used in Nebraska’s Central Platte Valley when river canals were already in need of repair after more than 100 years of use. The process consists of recharging an aquifer using either surface or underground recharge techniques, making the stored water available for use in dry years when surface water supplies may be lo...

12 - Crystal Powers - Managed Aquifer Recharge

Managed aquifer recharge can be an innovative way to both satisfy endangered species’ habitat restoration and benefit crop irrigators in the area. This is exactly how it was used in Nebraska’s Central Platte Valley when river canals were already in need of repair after more than 100 years of use. The process consists of recharging an aquifer using either surface or underground recharge techniques, making the stored water available for use in dry years when surface water supplies may be lo...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - episode 11

Matt Foley is program director for The Combine AgriFood Incubator, a part of Invest Nebraska, which supports early stage agtech companies in row crop, animal health, digital agriculture and sustainability. The incubator supports founders of these companies through go-to market support, producer connections and seed funding. Matt also assists in portfolio management for the venture fund. In this episode, guest host Ankit Chandra, DWFI program coordinator, sits down with Matt to discuss which...

11 - Matt Foley - The Combine AgriFood Incubator

Matt Foley is program director for The Combine AgriFood Incubator, a part of Invest Nebraska, which supports early stage agtech companies in row crop, animal health, digital agriculture and sustainability. The incubator supports founders of these companies through go-to market support, producer connections and seed funding. Matt also assists in portfolio management for the venture fund. In this episode, guest host Ankit Chandra, DWFI program coordinator, sits down with Matt to discuss which...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast episode 11

Matt Foley is program director for The Combine AgriFood Incubator, a part of Invest Nebraska, which supports early stage agtech companies in row crop, animal health, digital agriculture and sustainability. The incubator supports founders of these companies through go-to market support, producer connections and seed funding. Matt also assists in portfolio management for the venture fund. In this episode, guest host Ankit Chandra, DWFI program coordinator, sits down with Matt to discuss whic...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - Episode 10

Amy Wu is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker and the creator of From Farms to Incubators, a multimedia platform that uses documentary, video, photography and the written word to tell the stories of women leaders and innovators in agtech. It has a mission of highlighting women in food, farming, and farmtech, especially women of color. From Farms to Incubators includes a documentary that has been screened at South by Southwest, and a new book that was published earlier this year that profi...

10 - Amy Wu - From Farms to Incubators

Amy Wu is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker and the creator of  From Farms to Incubators, a multimedia platform that uses documentary, video, photography and the written word to tell the stories of women leaders and innovators in agtech. It has a mission of highlighting women in food, farming, and farmtech, especially women of color. From Farms to Incubators includes a documentary that has been screened at South by Southwest, and a new book that was published earlier this year that prof...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - Episode 9

Babak Safa joined the Water for Food Global Institute in July 2016. He specializes in agricultural meteorology, micro-meteorology and vegetation-atmosphere interaction. Safa analyzes eddy covariance flux data from installed systems to support remote sensing based model verification and water productivity estimates for several agricultural and natural ecosystems and projects around the world. He works with partnering researchers at LI-COR Biogeosciences, USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska-Li...

9 - Babak Safa - Satellite-based water productivity

Babak Safa joined the Water for Food Global Institute in July 2016. He specializes in agricultural meteorology, micro-meteorology and vegetation-atmosphere interaction. Safa analyzes eddy covariance flux data from installed systems to support remote sensing based model verification and water productivity estimates for several agricultural and natural ecosystems and projects around the world. He works with partnering researchers at LI-COR Biogeosciences, USDA-ARS and University of Nebraska-Li...

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast - Episode 8

Qiao Hu, a Ph.D. student studying natural resource sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, discusses his research using drones (UAVs) and artificial intelligence (AI) for wetlands management Qiao’s faculty advisor and DWFI Faculty Fellow Zhenghong Tang is a professor in the Community and Regional Planning Program and Landscape Architecture Program at UNL, as well as a courtesy professor in the School of Natural Resources. In this podcast, both discuss the importance of wetlands to...

8 - Qiao Hu - Wetlands management by drone and AI

Qiao Hu, a Ph.D. student studying natural resource sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, discusses his research using drones (UAVs) and artificial intelligence (AI) for wetlands management Qiao’s faculty advisor and DWFI Faculty Fellow Zhenghong Tang is a professor in the Community and Regional Planning Program and Landscape Architecture Program at UNL, as well as a courtesy professor in the School of Natural Resources. In this podcast, both discuss the importance of wetlands to...

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast - Episode 7

Nebraska state climatologist Martha Shulski joins the podcast to discuss the impact of climate change on society and the environment. Shulski is also a DWFI Faculty Fellow, associate professor of Applied Climate Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, director of the Nebraska State Climate Office and a proud “weather nerd.” She was one of the contributing authors on the Fourth National Climate Assessment released in 2018.

7 - Martha Shulski - Climate Change Impact on Society

Nebraska state climatologist Martha Shulski joins the podcast to discuss the impact of climate change on society and the environment. Shulski is also a DWFI Faculty Fellow, associate professor of Applied Climate Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, director of the Nebraska State Climate Office and a proud “weather nerd.” She was one of the contributing authors on the Fourth National Climate Assessment released in 2018.

6 - Jessica Walsh - Nitrates in Nebraska Groundwater

Crystal Powers, research and extension communication specialist with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) and Nebraska Water Center interviews University of Nebraska-Lincoln communications professor Jessica Walsh about her 2019 project Nitrates in Nebraska: A Multimedia Journalism Project on the Impact of Nitrate Contamination in the Groundwater. Walsh is a former newspaper reporter and a new DWFI Faculty Fellow.

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast - Episode 6

Crystal Powers, research and extension communication specialist with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) and Nebraska Water Center interviews University of Nebraska-Lincoln communications professor Jessica Walsh about her 2019 project Nitrates in Nebraska: A Multimedia Journalism Project on the Impact of Nitrate Contamination in the Groundwater. Walsh is a former newspaper reporter and a new DWFI Faculty Fellow.

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast - Episode 5

DWFI executive director Peter McCornick co-hosts with Gus Hurwitz, the Menard director of the Nebraska governance and technology center at the University of Nebraska. Law is a key focus of the conversation. Water regulations, and the subsidies and penalties that follow them, are not easy to change when a major weather event impacts water storage and use. As more and more weather events occur due to climate change, some advocates are suggesting that laws need to be more flexible and adaptab...

5 - Peter McCornick and Gus Hurwitz - Water regulations

DWFI executive director Peter McCornick co-hosts with Gus Hurwitz, the Menard director of the Nebraska governance and technology center at the University of Nebraska. Law is a key focus of the conversation. Water regulations, and the subsidies and penalties that follow them, are not easy to change when a major weather event impacts water storage and use. As more and more weather events occur due to climate change, some advocates are suggesting that laws need to be more flexible and adaptab...

4 - Meghan Sittler - Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center

Meghan Sittler is Director of the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, located about 15 minutes from downtown Lincoln, which focuses on conservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the birds that rely on it. Meghan joined the center two years ago with a background that included eight years as the Coordinator of the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance, and most recently she served as the Domestic Water/Wastewater Management Educator with UNL Extension where she helped to facilitate ...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - Episode 4

Meghan Sittler is Director of the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, located about 15 minutes from downtown Lincoln, which focuses on conservation of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the birds that rely on it. Meghan joined the center two years ago with a background that included eight years as the Coordinator of the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance, and most recently she served as the Domestic Water/Wastewater Management Educator with UNL Extension where she helped to facilitate ...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - Episode 3

Felicia Marcus has been making waves in California water management and regulation for more than three decades. She most recently served as Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, with responsibility for drinking water, water quality, and water rights. Prior to that, as Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA Region IX she was responsible for the range of environmental issues under EPA’s jurisdiction. Earlier, Marcus headed the Los Angeles Department of Public Works dealing with was...

3 - Felicia Marcus - Water management in California

Felicia Marcus has been making waves in California water management and regulation for more than three decades. She most recently served as Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, with responsibility for drinking water, water quality, and water rights. Prior to that, as Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA Region IX she was responsible for the range of environmental issues under EPA’s jurisdiction. Earlier, Marcus headed the Los Angeles Department of Public Works dealing with was...

Daugherty Water for Food podcast - Episode 2

Welcome to the second episode of the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast   This episode spotlights another amazing woman making waves in the food and water space. Lizz Ellis, CEO of International Development Enterprises (iDE), recently participated in the recent Women Leaders in Water for Food webinar focused on empowering women in ag and water management. She is interviewed by Naisargi (Naisi) Dave, who is Program Coordinator at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the Universit...

2 - Lizz Ellis - International Development Enterprises

Welcome to the second episode of the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast   This episode spotlights another amazing woman making waves in the food and water space. Lizz Ellis, CEO of International Development Enterprises (iDE), recently participated in the recent Women Leaders in Water for Food webinar focused on empowering women in ag and water management. She is interviewed by Naisargi (Naisi) Dave, who is Program Coordinator at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the Universit...

1 - Louis Mabulo - Youth and sustainable agriculture

Welcome to the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast! Since 2010, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has worked toward one goal: a food and water secure world — one in which global food security is ensured without compromising the use of water to meet other essential human and environmental needs. It’s a daunting vision, but one that is vitally important. This podcast amplifies the voices of those making waves in this space. Our host, Cindy Zimmerman, will...

Daugherty Water for Food Podcast - Women Leaders in Water for Food

Welcome to the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast! Since 2010, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has worked toward one goal: a food and water secure world — one in which global food security is ensured without compromising the use of water to meet other essential human and environmental needs. It’s a daunting vision, but one that is vitally important. This podcast amplifies the voices of those making waves in this space. Our host, Cindy Zimmerman, will...

1 - Louise Mabulo - Youth and sustainable agriculture

Welcome to the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast! Since 2010, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska has worked toward one goal: a food and water secure world — one in which global food security is ensured without compromising the use of water to meet other essential human and environmental needs. It’s a daunting vision, but one that is vitally important. This podcast amplifies the voices of those making waves in this space. Our host, Cindy Zimmerman, will...