Home   >  Jay N. Darling Institute   >  Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability Initiatives

The Darling Institute is leading sustainability initiatives in partnership with communities around Iowa and the Midwest. Learn more about current and past initiatives below.

Sustainability Initiatives

Grand River Grasslands Consortium

Collaborative Conservation for Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem.

The Grand River Grasslands Consortium, a four-year project running from 2024 to 2027, led by a coalition of Iowa and Missouri environmental organizations, aims to restore native grasslands in southern Iowa and northern Missouri.

Learn More

Two people kneel in a grassy field examining wildflowers, with one holding a clipboard and the other holding a yellow flower.

Cultivating Connections

Connecting businesses and private landowners in Madison County, IA.

The Cultivating Connections project is an initiative aimed at revitalizing Madison County by transforming underused and degraded spaces into vibrant, green areas filled with native vegetation.

Learn More

A vendor in a cap hands out papers to two children at an outdoor market stall, with flowers and potted plants in the foreground.

Perry, Iowa

Students and Faculty Leading Economic Revitalization in Perry, Iowa

In a unique collaboration with the city of Perry, Iowa, Drake students and faculty are taking on leadership roles to help the community navigate through challenging times.

Learn More

Smiling woman at an outdoor community event holding two bilingual counseling and support resources cards with QR codes.

Quapaw Nation, Oklahoma

Restoration and Education Across Tribal Lands

Students supported tribal-led conservation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental efforts across Quapaw lands.

Learn More

Two people wearing white beekeeping suits with veiled hoods stand smiling in a sunny grassy field near a metal fence.

Kankakee Sands, Illinois/Indiana

Ecological Stewardship and Public Engagement in Prairie Landscapes

Students engaged in prairie restoration, fire training, and community outreach to support biodiversity and public connection to conservation.

Learn More

Four people smiling indoors at an event, with one holding a potted wildflower plant with yellow and pink blooms.

Western Dubuque County, Iowa

Improving Watershed Health Through Localized Water Quality Monitoring

Students advance water quality monitoring and source tracking to help address rural watershed pollution.

Learn More

Paige Robertson performing water testing at the back of a truck.