The University of Nebraska’s Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute and India-based Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, one of the largest irrigation companies in the world, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that lays the groundwork for joint research and education efforts in the critical areas of water and food security.

NU President James B. Milliken and Jain Irrigation Managing Director Ajit Jain signed the MOU during a ceremony in India. Under the agreement, the two institutions will create the Jain Irrigation-University of Nebraska Water for Food Research and Education Program, which will focus on enhancing water productivity; educating scientists, students and others in water management, water policy and human capital development in the water sector; and other joint efforts in water and irrigated agriculture that will be beneficial to Nebraska, India and other regions around the world.

“The University’s Daugherty Institute and Jain Irrigation began exploring collaboration because of our similar interests in water for agriculture, and I am confident this Memorandum of Understanding will lead to important work,” Milliken said. “It will pave the way for a series of joint research projects that have the potential to benefit farmers in Nebraska and around the world. Moreover, after meetings with the Jains in India and Nebraska and reciprocal visits of our researchers, it has become apparent that there may be a range of issues on which collaboration would benefit our students and faculty and I am looking forward to our continued discussions.”

Among other contributions, Milliken said that the Daugherty Institute will draw on the university’s strength in disseminating knowledge to a wide audience and using research to inform policy to advance the work of the Jain Irrigation-NU Water for Food Research and Education Program.

Work plans developed by the university and Jain Irrigation will outline specific activities.

India is one of three countries NU is targeting for close cooperation as part of its overall global engagement strategy to initiate research collaborations and student and faculty exchanges that will benefit Nebraska and the world.