糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Economist Awarded Nearly $750K NSF Grant to Study Water Use in Agriculture
Dr. Kent Kovacs, an associate professor of accounting, economics, and finance at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has received a nearly $750,000 grant from the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Division of Research, Innovation, Synergies, and Education (RISE) to study how farmers鈥� risk preferences impact water use during droughts.
鈥淭his grant is an incredible opportunity to address a complex societal challenge鈥攅nsuring sustainable water use in agriculture,鈥� Kovacs said. 鈥淣o single discipline can solve this problem alone. We need interdisciplinary teams that combine economic modeling with hydrological data to understand how farmers respond to risk and changing water availability.鈥�
The $745,594 three-year project will integrate economic, hydrological, and social science models to examine how farmers make irrigation decisions, particularly in groundwater-dependent agricultural systems like the Lower Mississippi River Basin. The research findings will help policymakers and water resource managers develop strategies for sustainable water use amid increasing climate challenges.
鈥淒r. Kovacs’ research addresses a critical challenge for Arkansas and beyond鈥攈ow farmers manage water resources in the face of increasing drought conditions,鈥� said Thomas Clifton, interim dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services.听
鈥淭his grant from the National Science Foundation showcases the impact of his work and the innovative research happening at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. His findings will provide valuable insights that can help shape more sustainable agricultural practices and water conservation strategies.”
Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of water, and droughts can severely impact crop production. Kovacs鈥� project aims to determine how the risk preferences of farmers affect their response to drought: either by taking more conservative water management approaches or if economic pressures lead to faster depletion of groundwater resources.
The study will use surveys of farmers to measure their risk preferences and incorporate this data into economic and hydrological models. These models will simulate how irrigation decisions change over time, particularly during prolonged droughts, and predict whether farmers will adapt to drier conditions or overuse aquifers, potentially necessitating future public policy interventions.
鈥淚f our models suggest a rapid decline of aquifer resources, it may indicate the need for policy changes鈥攚hether through water use regulations, incentives, or conservation programs,鈥� Kovacs said. 鈥淏illions of dollars are invested in irrigated crop agriculture in Arkansas, making it the state’s second-highest revenue-generating agricultural activity after poultry. Understanding how irrigated farming impacts our goods and services from water resources is crucial for the livelihoods of Arkansans and the future of our state’s economy.鈥�
Kovacs is collaborating with co-principal investigators Dr. Kevin Befus, associate professor of geosciences at the University of Arkansas, and Dr. Mike Daniels, professor and extension soil and water conservation scientist, and John Pennington, water quality educator, from the . The project will include three stakeholder workshops with farmers, researchers, businesses, state and federal agencies, and policymakers to ensure the research is grounded in real-world challenges and practical solutions.
The grant will also support education and outreach initiatives, including curriculum development and student training, with an emphasis on engaging non-traditional students in water resource management research.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to receive this grant,鈥� Kovacs said. 鈥淭his research will not only contribute to scientific understanding but also provide practical insights for farmers and policymakers, helping ensure long-term water sustainability for future generations.鈥�