The Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) celebrated its 10th anniversary today at an event in New York City on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the UN Summit for the Future and Climate Week NYC.
Addressing a gathering of scientists, policymakers and climate leaders, speakers from J-WAFS and Community Jameel, an international organisation advancing science and learning and co-founder of J-WAFS, urged a redoubling of efforts to secure plentiful and safe water and food for all at a time when hunger and drought crises are increasing around the world.
Since its launch in 2014 by MIT and Community Jameel, J-WAFS has pioneered innovative scientific, economic and technological solutions to the global challenge of addressing water and food security. The lab is led by its director, John H. Lienhard V, the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Security Professor at MIT.
The epicentre for research on water and food systems at MIT, J-WAFS continues to drive innovation with essential seed funding for early-stage research, as well as larger commercialisation grants for researchers to spin new technologies out into the marketplace.
Over ten years, J-WAFS-funded research has powered companies and non-profits to have impact worldwide. Over USD 65 million of investment has been raised by startup companies benefitting from J-WAFS support.
Among these are AgZen, a company that helps farmers spraying crops control how droplets attach to leaves, reducing costs and minimising chemical runoff into groundwater.
J-WAFS-funded research also underpins Via Separations, a company that is transforming industrial chemical separation processes, making them cleaner by reducing 90% of energy needs.
Technologies developed with the lab’s support also include a low-cost water filter made from xylem wood tissue and deployed in the Himalayas, and a portable, off-grid device for desalination that is being commercialised by NONA Technologies.
Last year, J-WAFS launched a grand challenge to enhance the photosynthesis enzyme RuBisCO, thought to be the holy grail for improving agricultural yield.
Beyond technological innovation, J-WAFS is leading a major effort to model countries’ food security exposure to disruptions in global trade arising from conflict, climate change, and other shocks. The Jameel Index for Food Trade and Vulnerability was unveiled earlier in the day at an event convened by the Spanish government.
Today’s anniversary event in New York served as a reminder that more needs to be done to tackle water and food insecurity. Almost two billion people face water stress, with almost 200 million exposed to severe and prolonged droughts. Nearly one billion people face severe food insecurity.
Renee J. Robins, executive director of J-WAFS, who delivered keynote remarks at the event, said: “For the past ten years, J-WAFS has been a driving force behind much of MIT’s research and innovation in water and food systems. This past year alone, has reinforced our mission to secure humankind’s vital resources of water and food, as an increase of floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat have threatened water and food security across the planet. We mark our tenth anniversary year by reflecting on the significant impact we’ve had thus far, but also acknowledge that there is much work to be done, and we remain hopeful for the future because we know the MIT community does not shy away from tough problems. Encouraged by the ingenuity of the researchers we support, J-WAFS looks forward to continuing to advance knowledge and develop solutions that will have tangible impacts on the world, not just for the next ten years, but for many years to come.”
George Richards, director of Community Jameel, said: “The epicentre of water and food systems research at MIT for a decade, J-WAFS has powered vital advances in the fight against hunger and to secure clean water. From spin-out companies with pioneering technologies to the new Jameel Index for Food Trade and Vulnerability, the work of J-WAFS has never been more important than it is now, as we face rising pressures on global food and water systems from conflict and climate change.”
The New York event also included an exhibition of previously unseen photographs from George Steinmetz’s upcoming book ‘Feed the planet’, a short film from non-profit climate media organisation Grist about J-WAFS’ work on RuBisCO, and a fireside chat between Joel K. Bourne, an award-winning environmental journalist at National Geographic, and Tracy McVeigh, The Guardian’s global development editor, who both serve on the advisory committee of the Jameel Index.
