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Farming hillside

Third Annual Symposium

Kathmandu University, Nepal, June 29-30, 2026

A collaboration among the University of Maryland, the Nepal Technology Innovation Center, Kathmandu University, Sanskriti Farms & Research Centre, and Dhulikhel Hospital

Closing the Loop: Integrating Recycled Water,
Renewable Energy, and Agricultural Innovation
for Climate-Resilient Sustainable Development

Bridging water systems, clean energy, and food production to create resilient and sustainable global futures.

Laguna
Shree Janek Secondary School
Clive
GFA
Laguna
Leena
WASH panel
Amy at WASH panel
poster session
FEW leaders
Awards

The Global FEWture Alliance Annual Symposium 2026 brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to address the interconnected challenges of food security, clean energy, and water sustainability. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, the conference aims to generate innovative and practical solutions for global communities.

Set against the backdrop of Nepal's Himalayan landscape and hosted at Kathmandu University in Dhulikhel, the event provided a dynamic platform for collaboration through plenary sessions, lightning talks, poster presentations, and hands-on networking opportunities. The symposium was a unique opportunity to learn, share, and build international partnerships around the Food–Energy–Water nexus.

Opening Remarks by Dr. Bim Prasad Shrestha, Dr. Amy R. Sapkota, Dr. Boris Lushniak, Dr. Biraj Karmacharya.
Keynote by Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha
Cultural performance by Nepalese dancers
GFA Introduction by Dr. Amy Sapkota
Maryland FEWture - Dr. Heidi Scott
Nepal FEWture - Dr. Leena Malayil
Israel FEWture - Dr. Clive Lipchin
Education FEWture - Dr. Suhana Chattopadhyay

Closing the Loop: Panel Discussion
Chair: Dr. Jeet Chand
Panelists: Dr. Amy R. Sapkota (Director, Global FEWture Alliance, School of Public Health, University of Maryland), Er. Yogendra Chitrakar (Senior Divisional Engineer, Ministry of Water Supply), Mr. Mohan Prasad Marasini (CAO, Dhulikhel Municipality), Mr. Santosh Kafle (Environment Officer, Namobuddha Municipality)
Scientific Session 1 - WASH, Wastewater treatment and Reuse

Dr. Dinesh Raj Manandhar - Climate-Resilient WASH in Nepal: Linking Policy framework and Locally Led Adaptation for Circular System
Dr. Rachel Goldstein (Recorded) - Growing Rainwater Harvesting on Urban Farms in Maryland
Mr. Vaskar Sapkota - Implementation of a Sustainable Water Filtration System in a Healthcare Setting
Mr. Mohan Raj Bhatta - Unlocking Potentiality across the WASH, Food and Climate Resilient through Water Use Master Plan (WUMP) at Local Level
Mr. Simanta Ghimire - AI-Driven Discovery of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria from Kathmandu Landfill Microbiomes
Mr. Safal Jung Thapa - Assessment of the WASH Situation and Challenges in Implementing the Water Surveillance System in Dhulikhel Municipality
Scientific Session 2 - Renewable Energy & Off-grid FEW Solutions

Dr. Clive Lipchin - Decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse: a case study from Nepal
Dr. Marco Exavery Mng’ong’o - Performance of hybrid renewable energy systems compared to single-source energy systems in agricultural production: evidence from demonstration and commercial farms in Tanzania (recorded)
Dr. Guangbin Li (recorded) - Free nitrous acid pretreatment for enhancing anaerobic digestion of organic wastes under various operational conditions
Er. Balgopal Sigdel - Performance Assessment of Household Scale Biogas Plants Among Smallholder Livestock Farmers: Evidence from Sindhuli District, Nepal
Mr. Gopal Adhikari - Cooking Energy Transition in Nepal: From Traditional Biomass to Electric Cooking for Sustainable Development
Scientific Session 3 - Education and Public Health; International Development

Dr. Abhinash Bhattachan - Examining food self-sufficiency and food security in Nepal amidst high rates of migration
Dr. Paul Turner (Recorded) - Hypothesis: Improved water access for agriculture may reduce aflatoxin-driven stunting in Tanzania
Scientific Session 4 - Climate Adaptation

Mr. Abhisek Shrestha/Bharti Thapa- Do crop landraces help mitigate climate change–induced stresses such as heat, drought, and salinity?
Mr. Shisher Shrestha and Dr. Darshan Karki - Why Technology Isn't Enough: Unpacking Social and Institutional Dynamics of Water Lifting Projects
Er. Ashmita Upadhyay - Stability of solar energy systems in Nepal under climatic stress
Er. Karuna Gautam - Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Trends, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation Strategies
Mr. Samriddha Raman Parajuli - Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Nepal: Integrating Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) with Renewable Energy
Scientific Session 5 - Soil and Agriculture

Er. Shree Krishna Dhital - Impact of Biochar-Based Soil amendments on Morphological Traits, Yield, and Soil Health of Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cycla) under Polyhouse and Open-Field Conditions in
Nepal
Dr. Shirley Micallef (Recorded) - Regulated irrigation as a viable water management strategy for field-grown crops
Dr. Tomer Malchi - CultivAid's work in sub-Saharan Africa
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