Message from Ronnie Green, Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska and Harlan Vice Chancellor, UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

In the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) we are all about growing a healthy future. As a part of our state’s land grant university, we seek to place Nebraska on the leading edge of food production, human nutrition, environmental stewardship and youth development.

Our world is growing. In the next 20 years, a majority of the world’s population growth will be in developing nations. The growth will happen in areas that are not equipped to support rapid population change. They are lacking economically and they also are behind in their current production practices. At the exact same time, a large portion of our population is fighting lifestyle diseases related to obesity.

IANR’s innovation in research, teaching and extension education can play a key role in helping to adequately feed our growing population. Our focus is on how to produce more food with less energy, less land and less water. Bringing more food into the market is vital. Enhancing production and efficiency of production, while maintaining a greater degree of environmental sustainability, is central to our success.

Food, natural resource and energy security are the greatest challenges of our time. But it is a challenge worth fighting, especially when we live in the breadbasket of the world. In Nebraska we are blessed with resources to produce food. We have more than 45 million acres of farmland. Nebraska leads the country in the production of red meat, Great Northern beans and popcorn. We come in second in the production of pinto beans, proso millet, corn for grain production and dry edible beans. One in three jobs in Nebraska is directly tied to agriculture and food production systems. Every Nebraskan should care about what we do and be proud of what we do.

Our goal in IANR is to remain the premier land-grant university in the world in the agricultural life sciences study of natural resource systems, and agricultural and food policy. A goal that is achievable, thanks to publications like Strategic Discussions for Nebraska that allow us to think critically about key issues. Opportunities for Nebraska, Volume Three: Food Scarcity is researched and written entirely by students in a special topics Magazine Writing class, under the direction of Mary Garbacz. Strategic Discussions for Nebraska is supported by IANR, as we hope these publications spark discussion and allow you to become involved in this important conversation.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Robert and Ardis James Family Foundation whose generous contributions launched Strategic Discussions for Nebraska. Donors such as the James family help shape the future of our state through their philanthropic spirit and passion for education. I would also like to thank the many faculty members across the University who served as sources for the project. Telling our story is everyone’s responsibility and I appreciate faculty taking time to share their experiences and insights.

Thanks also to the members of the Strategic Discussions for Nebraska Advisory Board. Made up of people within the University and the wider Nebraska business and educational communities, this group has been vital in brainstorming topics of interest.

I hope you enjoy Opportunities for Nebraska, Volume Three: Food Scarcity. I look forward to looking back on it in years to come and reflecting on the progress we have made in growing a healthy future for our state, nation and world.