Food, fuel, fiber, and functional landscapes:
Irrigation plays a key role in making all of these possible.
IIC exists to advance smart irrigation knowledge, tools and strategies.
Supported by $5M from FFAR + $5M match non-federal sources
Our focus:
Research Priorities
Supporting irrigation application at the right time, in the right place, in the right amount for turf, landscapes, high-value agriculture, and commodity crop systems
Encouraging resource conservation, efficiency, and stewardship and beneficial economic and environmental outcomes
Understanding and overcoming barriers to adoption of advanced irrigation management tools and strategies
Research Tracks
Improving agricultural and landscape management outcomes with resource-smart irrigation
Advancing irrigation technologies and best management practices
Informing effective irrigation decision making
Clarifying how irrigation generates value and mitigates risk
Where we're headed
We aim to support the expansion of advanced irrigation management to address critical water sustainability challenges.
Our partners
Irrigation supports food security, supply chain stability, quality of life, land values, economic activity, ecosystem services, community well-being and more.
18% of cropland is irrigated globally, supporting 40% of worldwide food production.
— FAO, 2019
1/2 of the world’s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025.
— UNICEF, 2022
Irrigation is responsible for ~70% of freshwater withdrawals worldwide.
— USGS
Irrigation’s sustainable future
starts here
