People love reflecting back on shared experiences in the human experiment via year-end compilations: National Geographic’s best photos, Minnesota Public Radio’s best books, the New York Times’ year-end quiz.

In that spirit, IonE will round up our “Best of 2016” and share one a week over the next three weeks.

We start with four IonE-funded research projects that represent the first of their kind. In the world. Ever.

Game-changing research

IonE’s Global Water Initiative kicked off the year with a global water map that offers unprecedented resolution, giving water managers and policy-makers a tool to improve water access around the world.

A Global Landscapes Initiative project team developed the first global picture of greenhouse gas emissions from crop production — crucial information for targeting reduction strategies.

GLI also unveiled the first-ever map of smallholder farms across the developing world, a giant step toward understanding where and how smallholder farms can be sustainable for both landscapes and livelihoods.

The NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise closed out the year of firsts with the announcement that their research and tools will guide the world’s largest pork producer in its commitment to reduce its supply chain greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent over the next 10 years.

Next week, catch highlights of new partnerships that were formed between IonE and world-class organizations and businesses. The following week we’ll share a summary of how IonE itself grew and changed in 2016, and take a look at what’s in store for 2017.

Photo: iStock