LINCOLN- Large enough to encompass both Germany and Spain combined, Mato Grosso, a city in Brazil and one of the largest producers of corn, soy, cotton, and ethanol worldwide, is looking outward for sustainable development practices, including towards Nebraska. To meet increasing global demand, the Brazilian state intends to increase its food production, while also attempting to maintain the surrounding Amazon Rainforest, in which much of the agriculturally-suited water resides.

To do so, the state of Mato Grosso is planning on expanding its irrigation practices, and is looking to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as well as the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, for aid in mapping out the region's available surface and groundwater resources. Mato Grosso Gov. Mauro Mendes recently met with Gov. Jim Pillen at the 2023 Water for Food Global Conferences to discuss opportunities for partnership between the two states.

"We are looking forward to a partnership with Nebraska," said Mendes, "because Nebraska has the components of education, agricultural research, irrigation sector, and the governance of water." Geographically, both Nebraska and Mato Grosso reside near the center of their respective nations, and are both substantial food production hubs. According to Marcos Heil Costa, a professor of engineering at Universidade Federal de Vicosa in Brazil, such an expansion and partnership will be necessary if Mato Grosso is to weather predicted rain shortfalls, which are slated to decrease maize production in Brazil by 24-48%.

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