Ensuring water and food security is a wicked problem with complex global connections and nuances. Whether in Nebraska, California, Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting sustainable agricultural systems involves a multitude of public and private sector actors and depends on individuals and organizations cooperating to build trust using old and new technologies and behavioral insights.
Later this Fall, we’ll be teaching a new interdisciplinary and interactive course in the Fall Minisession. AGRI310, “Securing and Sustaining Water for Food Globally”, will focus on the entrepreneurial and sustainability aspects of water use for food production in both advanced and developing economies. The course will regularly group students virtually to engage in debates; role playing and simulation; and connect with a global network of business and thought leaders to understand where future water and food challenges will be, and how students can help to solve them. One of the major goals of the class is to allow UNL undergraduates to engage with agricultural decision makers and entrepreneurs around the world, leveraging the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute’s network of connections.
Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on analyzing entrepreneurial approaches by public and private sector actors to evaluate the use of water in agriculture and potential impacts, opportunities, and challenges. Roughly half of the course will focus on water and agricultural entrepreneurship in the High Plains region of the United States. Half will focus on water and food in an international context. Students taking the class will be able to obtain an ACE 9 outcome (Exhibit global awareness or knowledge of human diversity through analysis of an issue). Honors credit will also be available.
For more information please contact the instructor, Nick Brozovic, at nbrozovic@nebraska.edu.