In our first episode of 2026, host Frances Hayes discusses a unique approach to supporting access to irrigation for smallholder farmers with Erin Anders, Senior Program Manager at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. Farmers of all sizes in all parts of the world need access to water, inputs and financing to grow food. Irrigation as a Service (IaaS) …
Water for Food Institute Names New Executive Director
A new executive director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska has been appointed. Joe Sanders will step in to the role just vacated by the retirement of Peter McCornick at the end of 2025, after nearly a decade of dedicated service to the institute. Sanders will officially assume the executive director position …
Land O’Lakes Doubles Down on Hunger Relief for the Holidays
Land O’Lakes, Inc. today announced a $1 million hunger relief investment aimed at supporting rural communities ahead of the holiday season. Grants will go to 15 Feeding America® partner food banks across Land O’Lakes’ member-owner and employee footprint, as well as to Feeding America. This commitment effectively doubles the cooperative’s 2025 hunger relief impact, building on nearly 4 million meals …
DWFI Podcast 48 – A Decade of Daugherty Water for Food Leadership
In this special episode, host Frances Hayes sits down with Peter McCornick, Executive Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, as he concludes nearly a decade of leadership. This deep-dive conversation covers Peter’s distinguished career, from his early life on a farm in Scotland and pivotal international work in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, to what drew …
Addition of Phosphate to Critical Minerals Applauded
The U.S. Geological Survey recently added phosphate to its 2025 List of Critical Minerals, recognizing its importance for crop nutrition and food security. Texas-based biotechnology company MetaPhite Genetics applauded that action, since phosphorus is one of the three primary nutrients essential for crop growth, yet much of the global phosphate supply is concentrated in a small number of countries. The …
Sen. Marshall Pleased With Ag Input on MAHA Report
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) is pleased that the most recent Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report on the Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again included a lot more input from the agriculture sector. “I think the first rendition of MAHA was written without much input from agriculture,” said Sen. Marshall during the Ag Outlook Forum last week in Kansas …
Denali Makes Waste into 12 Billion Pounds of Feed and Fertilizer
Denali continued to lead the nation as a recycler of organics in 2024, transforming organic materials into 12 billion pounds of high-quality feed and fertilizer. According to Denali’s newly released 2024 Sustainability Report, the recycled agriculture-grade products fed nearly 50,000 cattle and enriched more than 100,000 acres of farmland, which helped build resilience for American agriculture, supporting healthy soils, nourishing …
DWFI Podcast 43 – Irrigation and Global Health
In the 43rd episode of the Water for Food Podcast, host Frances Hayes speaks with Claudia Ringler of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) about the crucial link between irrigation and global health, expanding on Ringler’s recent Heuermann Lecture as part of the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference and previous episodes in this podcast. Together they explore how …
Cook Out Costs Hold Steady in 2025
This year’s Fourth of July cookout will cost slightly less than last year’s record, but the federal government’s broader Consumer Price Index report for food at home still shows an overall increase of 2.2% compared to a year ago. According to the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual summer survey, holiday cookout for ten will cost $70.92, down only 30 …
DWFI Executive Director to Retire
The University of Nebraska has initiated a global search for the next Executive Director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI). After nearly a decade leading DWFI, Peter McCornick announced he will step down as executive director in August 2025 with plans to transition to a full-time faculty role in UNL’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering. Established in …