Thursday, May 19, 2016

Collaboration is Key

By: Jessica Wheeler, The Groundwater Foundation

I recently attended the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute's 2016 global conference, "Catalytic Collaborations: Building Public-Private Partnerships for Water and Food Security." This three-day conference brought various stakeholders together to discuss innovative ways to address water issues around the world, including groundwater availability, increasing agricultural production with sustainable water use, the effects of climate change on water and food security, implications for public health and much more. These issues cross political boundaries, affect farmers and apartment-dwellers alike, and require all of us to work together to implement meaningful solutions. Hank M. Bounds, President of the University of Nebraska put it best in his opening statement, "Complex challenges demand collaborative approaches."

The conference included excellent speakers from around the world offering their expertise and valuable discussion between conference participants. Check out videos from the conference.

 
Photography Contest from The Water for Food Institute's
2016 Global Conference
The theme of this year's Water for Food conference, collaboration, is also one of the most important tenets of The Groundwater Foundation's efforts to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations. Successful conservation and protection begin with solid partnerships. Like the Water for Food Institute's conference, the Groundwater Guardian program showcases the significance of multiple sectors coming together to create positive, lasting change - from scientists, policymakers, and non-governmental organizations to individual citizens. We all play a role in environmental stewardship. 

Find a way to get involved and build collaborative partnerships in your community with programming from The Groundwater Foundation! 

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