In the 40th episode of the Water for Food Podcast, DWFI Director of Communications and Public Relations Frances Hayes sits down with Darren Siekman at the Valmont Industries headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Darren is the Vice President of Policy and Industry Strategy at Valley Agriculture, a Valmont Company. The two discuss Valmont's history and global presence and the importance of center pivot irrigation in agricultural productivity, as well as current challenges and future innovations in achieving global water and food security.

Navigating climate change: impacts on water stress and agricultural production in Nebraska

Nebraska, located in the U.S. “Corn Belt,” is well known for its agricultural and livestock production, generating around $31.1 billion in agricultural cash receipts in 2023. But how will climate change impact long-term agricultural production, and how can we adapt to changes to ensure water security and food supply for future generations?

In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes talks to DWFI Research Assistant Professor Ivo Gonçalves, whose recent study explores the future of corn production in Nebraska. DWFI Senior Program Manager Renata Rimšaitė also joins to offer examples of sustainable water management strategies.

Key takeaways from Ivo’s study, How can Future Climate Change Affect the Corn Production System in Nebraska, USA?

• Climate change effects crop life cycle, growth and development
• To adapt, new varieties will need to be developed (but they will likely require more water)
• Efficient irrigation is essential to ensure consistent, high crop yields as temperatures and weather patterns change.
• There is a need for innovation in water management for sustained food and water security

Guests:

Ivo Zuition Gonçalves, Ph.D, Research Assistant Professor, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute

Renata Rimšaitė, Ph.D, Senior Program Manager, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute

Episode 38 - Irrigation expansion’s varying impacts on nutrition

Irrigation expansion can provide the water necessary to increase food production for our growing world. It can also be a means for moving farmers from simply producing enough food for their families to generating more income through domestic markets or export of additional production.

However, increasing use of irrigation can have varying impacts on the nutrition of the local communities and it’s important to consider these costs and benefits when striving to reduce poverty, end hunger and protect our water resources.

In this episode of the Water for Food Podcast, DWFI Director of Communications and Public Relations Frances Hayes talks with experts in irrigation and nutrition as they dive into the interconnectedness of irrigation, water availability and nutrition. Guests include Dr. Piyush Mehta and Assistant Professor Dr. Kyle Davis, both in the Department of Geography & Spatial Sciences at the University of Delaware.

View the research mentioned in the episode here.